BME Volunteers - DOH news

David Flory has published his third quarterly report on NHS finance and service performance

Health Secretary Alan Johnson today unveiled plans for a major new programme to train an extra 3,600 psychological therapists

Health Secretary Alan Johnson today announced a package of measures to recruit an extra 4,000 midwives to the NHS over the next three years.

The possible health effects of climate change are set out in a report published today by DH and the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

In February 2007, the Ministerial Industry Strategy Group published its Long-Term Leadership Strategy for medicines. To encourage joint working between the NHS and pharmaceutical industry it recommended that the Department would publish guidance to support this.

The eligibility criteria, which governs all older and disabled people's right to receive care services, is to be fundamentally reviewed.

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo today announced £398m funding for drug treatment for 2008/09 to build on the successes of existing drug treatment programmes.

Health Secretary unveils new infection control strategy

Gordon Brown will today pledge to make the renewal of the NHS his "biggest priority" as he unveils a major new national health screening programme.

The Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest cancer treatment centres in Europe, and an international leader in cancer research and development.

-Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:35:54 GMT

Spinal Cord Compression: What you need to know

Spinal Cord Compression: what it means and how it can be treated

All our chemotherapy regimen information cards have been updated

A guide for patients and their families

The Christie Hospital is a training hospital for postgraduate and undergraduate trainees so you may meet male and female students in all areas of the hospital. We train doctors, nurses, radiographers and other therapists in the treatment and care of cancer patients.

People coping with cancer are not always aware of the many helpful services they can call on. This booklet tells you what sort of help there is at the Christie and in your local area.

This leaflet has been written specially for patients who are having treatment to the pelvis for tumours of the anus.

These booklets have been updated

Docetaxel (Taxotere) and Cisplatin Chemotherapy regimen cards

Patient information booklets from the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cancer Network have nbeen updated

We are often asked about new drugs and treatments reported in the newspapers or on the internet. This leaflet answers some frequently asked questions but you may have others to discuss with your doctors

Patient information booklet

We have a commitment to making sure that the risk of infection to patients is minimal. Patients at the Christie are particularly vulnerable to infection and we have a dedicated infection control team working to minimize that risk.

This is a new information booklet

This booklet has been updated

-Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:16:09 GMT

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 sets out the legal basis for responsible officers enabling secondary legislation to set out the detail. This consultation seeks views on what should be included in that secondary legislation.

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 amends the governance and functions of CHRE and the membership of its council. Implementation of the reformed council is taken forward through these regulations, which require public consultation and are subject to negative resolution procedures.

The Government's renewed alcohol strategy outlines national and local action to achieve long-term reductions in alcohol-related ill health and crime. Government committed to carrying out three reviews of industry practice and then to consult on whether there is a need for further regulation of alcohol retailing.

Consultation document on proposals to introduce powers of suspension and a single approach to the removal of chairs and non-executives of Strategic Health Authorities and other health bodies

This draft order sets out a proposed constitution for the GCC. It provides details of the composition of the council, the terms of office of council members, and criteria for the disqualification, suspension or removal of members from office.

-Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:16:10 GMT

Public health topics of special interest to the Chief Medical Officer.

-Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:16:10 GMT

This document sets out the messages we heard during the consultation process both through formal responses and the wide ranging discussions that took place in the 18 workshops held around England. We set out in this document the actions we will take forward and develop in response to the feedback we received.

RSS feed of new resources added to the Specialist Library for Ethnicity and Health (SLEH)

Following findings from the first GP Patient Survey, this Department of Health report reviews why patients from black and ethnic minority backgrounds find it more difficult to access GP services.

A randomised controlled trial using 21 inner-city practices in the UK. It investigated the effectiveness of a culturally sensitive enhanced care package in UK general practices for the improvement of cardiovascular risk factors in patients of south Asian origin with type 2 diabetes.

This report is for practitioners and policy makers, both in the ‘mainstream’ or ‘generic’ health and social care services, local and national government and third sector, and to those active in the BME communities themselves, either as workers and community representatives or as activists, to inform future developments. 59 pages, includes references and resources

Religion and spiritual practices are among the resources used by patients to cope with chronic pain. Review with 29 references.

This research shows that Irish Travellers have little experience of specialist palliative care and that specialist palliative care providers have little knowledge or experience of Irish Travellers.

For the first time, the Conference of the British Society for Rheumatology and the British Health Professionals in Rheumatology held a dedicated discussion session on ‘Ethnicity’. Chair of the session, Dr Ash Samanta argued for more attention to the topic.

SLEH article - This is perhaps one area where we have more data on ‘ethnic differentials’ than any other health topic, but still no satisfactory explanations or interventions and policy changes to address the inequalities found. Includes references.

Article with emphasis on the ethnic aspects of colorectal cancer. Includes references.

Case study of a young British woman of Bangladeshi origin and social reactions to her condition

Systematic literature review of research about self harm that compared at least two ethnic groups in the United Kingdom.

Systematic Review into cultural competence in the field of ethnicity and mental health, finds relatively few evaluations studied. All were in North America and problematic to transfer to UK but provide some evidence of alternative means of implementation and evaluation.

The latest report of the Confidential Enquiry ("Saving Mothers Lives") shows alarming disparities in the health of minority ethnic and migrant mothers, and attributes some of these to failures of language support and interpreter provision.

A systematic review of the effectiveness of primary care interventions on glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in minority ethnic groups with diabetes.

Summary: Data from this qualitative study was from 18 focus groups with a purposive sample of 106 health professionals of differing disciplines, in primary and secondary care settings, working with patient populations of varying ethnic diversity in the Midlands of the UK. The study suggests potential mechanisms by which health professionals may inadvertently contribute to ethnic disparities in health care.

Impact of a cardiovascular risk control project for South Asians (Khush Dil) on motivation, behaviour, obesity, blood pressure and lipids Background: Khush Dil was set up in Edinburgh in 2002 to manage cardiovascular risk factors in South Asians. Its impact was assessed in an in-service evaluation. Methods: Between June 2002 and July 2004, 304 South Asians attended health visitor led screening clinics. Measurements included self-report, anthropometry, blood pressure and blood tests. A total 140 subjects attended follow-up screening (henceforth returnees). The outcomes relate to them. Results: In most respects, including ethnicity, family history, medical history and motivational stage, returnees were similar to the non-returnees, but were a little older and were more likely to be women. Between baseline and return visits, returnees reported an increased motivational status (those in the action stage of change increased from 12 to 28%) and increased physical activity (e.g. 45% of women reported improvement at follow-up). Returnees had reduced their risk factor profiles at follow-up in a range of risk factors, e.g. reduction in cholesterol (0.19 mmol/l; 95% CL, 0.1–0.37), in diastolic and systolic blood pressures (3.15 and 3.7 mmHg, respectively) and in weight (0.61 kg; 95% CL, 0.22–1.02). Conclusions: The Khush Dil Project had an impact as indicated by self-report, physical measures and laboratory tests. Such initiatives now need evaluation for cost-effectiveness. Cluster randomized controlled trials warrant consideration.

Ramadan, a month of fasting, is a daily abstinence from any food, beverage, or oral drug from dawn to sunset. Patients with chronic diseases often insist on fasting even though they are permitted not to by Islamic rules.

This study was designed to find the effect of Ramadan fasting on allograft function.

This booklet is aimed at helping you understand the health issues related to fasting, so that you are able to make more informed choices, minimise complications and maximise the benefit of your fast. The booklet will guide you through physiological changes that occur.

The DH has published a series of easy read guides to help commissioners, service planners and frontline staff deliver healthcare to LGBT people. They cover various health topics and offer advice on caring for people of different ages, from various ethnic backgrounds, as well as those with disabilities. Improving access to care is also featured in the guides.

NLH Evidence Update RSS Feed

-Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:16:17 GMT

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Safe sensible social: the next steps in the National Alcohol Strategy, was published in June 2007 and set out the positive role that alcohol plays in British society but also the harm it can cause, the public demand for action to reduce both excess consumption and harm, and the actions the Government then planned to take. The Department of Health...

-Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:16:17 GMT

This report summarises the contribution of nurses and midwives which was outlined in 'High quality care for all: NHS next stage review'

Guidance on primary care trusts' freedom to re-name to NHS Local.

This newsletter provides an update on progress since the publication of Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: a cross-Government strategy for England in January 2008.

The report, by an expert working group chaired by Sir Liam Donaldson, sets out the principles and next steps for implementing revalidation in the United Kingdom. It is based on the wide ranging discussions of the proposals in the White Paper, 'Trust, assurance and safety: the regulation of health professionals in the twenty-first century'.

The Department of Health and the General Medical Couhcil jointly commissioned KPMG to undertake a review of the state of readiness of clinical governance and medical appraisal to support the implementation of medical relicensure.

This document provides third sector organisations with information about the Department of Health Third Sector Investment Programme's Strategic Partner Programme. Organisations should read the information carefully as there are changes to the funding streams available from 2009-10 following the Strategic Review of Department of Health funding of third sector organisations.

This document provides third sector organisations with information about the Third Sector Investment Programme's Innovation Excellence and Service Development Fund. Organisations should read the information carefully as there are changes to the funding streams available from 2009-10 following the Strategic Review of Department of Health funding of third sector organisations.

The End of Life Care Strategy aims to improve the provision of care for all adults at the end of life, and their families and carers.