Website of the Department of Health

NHS Choices joins forces with NHS Direct - Public to access online health information from one source

From tomorrow, the public will be able to access NHS online health information from one website.

NHS Choices and NHS Direct have joined forces to create one comprehensive online health service, ending any potential for confusion.

All NHS Direct online health content will now be available on the NHS Choices website, including the popular Self Help Guide and Health Encyclopedia. NHS Direct will continue to provide a telephone service giving health information and advice for patients and the public.

• NHS Choices joins forces with NHS Direct
• NHS Choices (opens new window)

Deep Clean to Keep Clean - NHS teams submit best practice examples

A collection of good practice examples relating to the recent Deep Clean initiative is now available.

The compendium gives a flavour of the approaches used by Trusts to achieve real improvements in patient experience. It illustrates examples, which have worked, and some of the resulting improvements.

The collated learning will be of interest to other NHS Trusts tackling hygiene and infection control.

• From deep clean to keep clean

Policy news

1. Treatment of younger people on adult psychiatric wards (Gateway reference number: 10789)

A reminder that from 1 December 2008 no one under the age of 16 should be treated on a adult psychiatric ward in line with the Government commitment made in November 2006. This follows a DH letter to all SHA chief executives on 27 June 2007. The DH is also committed to commencing Section 31(3) of the Mental Health Act 2007 by April 2010. This will place a duty on hospital managers to ensure patients aged 16-17 are treated in an environment suitable for their age, subject to their needs. NIMHE is currently undertaking a programme of awareness raising, self-assessment and support to assist hospitals on this issue.

Action: NHS chief executives need to ensure they are aware of and meet the Government’s commitments on this issue. 

• National Institute for Mental Health in England: Children and Young People (opens new window)

Consultations and evaluations

No news this week

Publications

2. Mental Health Minimum Dataset (Gateway reference number: 10761)

The NHS Information Centre has published the 2003/07 Mental Health Minimum Dataset. This contains record-level data about the care of adults and older people using secondary or specialist mental health services.

Action: NHS chief executives will be interested in the information, to help improve the quality of care received by mental health patients.

• The Information Centre: Mental Health Minimum Dataset (MHMDS) (opens new window)

3. National Learning Management System (Gateway reference number: 10763)

Piloting of the National Learning Management System is complete and work is now underway to prepare for its availability to the wider NHS in the next few months. The pilot process has been successful in highlighting a number of lessons learned and points for action prior to national launch.

Action: NHS chief executives wanting to find out more about the process and outcomes of the pilot, and next steps for the project should access:

• NHS Electronic Staff Record: National LMS (opens new window)

4. NICE commissioning guides (Gateway reference number: 10767)

NICE has published three commissioning guides to help the NHS in England effectively commission evidence-based care for patients. The guides are underpinned by NICE clinical guidelines and cover services for epilepsy, antenatal, postnatal mental health and peer support for women who breastfeed.

Action: NHS chief executives will be interested in the guides, which support the commissioning of evidence-based care in line with NICE clinical guidelines.

• NICE commissioning guides - supporting clinical service redesign (opens new window)

5. Deep Clean to Keep Clean (Gateway reference number 10285)

A collection of case studies and best practice examples has been published outlining approaches used during the national deep clean programme. The examples, submitted by the NHS, show areas which show real improvements in patient experience.

Action: NHS organisations can use the compendium as a basis for shared learning across organisations and to inform local on-going deep cleaning activity.

• From deep clean to keep clean

Conferences and events - i) what’s new

6. Care Quality Commission events (Gateway reference number: 10783)

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is holding a series of events for providers and stakeholders during November and December 2008. Morning sessions will focus on the consultation on CQC’s enforcement policy. The afternoon sessions will look at HCAI registration.

Action: Book places by telephoning 020 8481 3313 or via:

• Care Quality Commission events (opens new window)

Conferences and events - ii) places still available

No news this week

Patient safety alerts

7. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/075 (Gateway reference number: 10669)

Device: Savanah 2” and 4” raised toilet seats manufactured by Homecraft Rolyan. 

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 23 October 2008 to NHS trusts for action.

Further information can be found at: 

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/075 (opens new window)

8. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/076 (Gateway reference number: 10778)

Device: Kid Active folding manual wheelchair with swing away footrests manufactured by Lomax Mobility Ltd.

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 23 October 2008 to NHS trusts for action.

Further information can be found at: 

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/076 (opens new window)

9. MEDICAL DEVICE ALERT – MDA/2008/077 (Gateway reference number: 10779)

Device: Storm3, Storm TT, Typhoon and Typhoon II battery powered wheelchairs manufactured by Invacare. 

This Medical Device Alert was issued on 27 October 2008 to NHS trusts for action.

Further information can be found at:

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - MDA/2008/077 (opens new window)