:: Fade - the blog ::

If you want to understand the origins of the headings go to Friday, November 29, 2002.

:: Saturday, January 11, 2003 ::

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Another 15 Minutes... Health News via Fade
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£268m to care for patients

Health services across Merseyside and Cheshire will get £268m towards patient care during the next three years. The government yesterday announced the funding yesterday, which is to cover operational costs across the region for hospitals, GPs and the ambulance service. Over the three years £138m will be spent directly by the trusts on maintaining and improving buildings and equipment. The remaining £130m will be held by the Strategic Health Authority and distributed at its discretion for larger scale investments.

Daily Post 10/01/03
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Born to be fat

Fifty years ago, an enormously fat mutant mouse emerged in a New England research centre. It marked the start of a long search for a gene that controlled appetite and therefore weight. In 1994, it was finally located. Now the genetic quest is on again - this time for a miracle cure for the obesity pandemic that is rapidly spreading across the world. In the meantime, at least we now know why some people get fat and others don't. Ellen Ruppel Shell investigates

The Guardian 11/01/03
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CJD victim, 18, is first to undergo brain treatment

Surgeons operated yesterday on a teenager dying from variant CJD, the brain disease linked with eating BSE-infected beef, in preparation for the start of an experimental treatment aimed at arresting the fatal disease. vJonathan Simms, 18, from Belfast, will become the first patient in the world to undergo the treatment when it begins next week. His family won the right to have him given the drug, pentosan polysulphate, after High Court hearings in London and Belfast. In December, a judge concluded any risk from the drug's use was acceptable as without treatment Jonathan, was certain to die.

The Independent 11/01/03
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Clue to mystery Viagra deaths

The mystery behind the deaths of a small number of men taking the anti-impotence drug Viagra may have been solved by scientists. The drug was thought to work not only by dilating the blood vessels, but also by stopping tiny solid particles in the blood called platelets from clumping together and forming clots that could block blood flow and trigger a heart attack or stroke. However, new work by researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago has found that the drug in fact has the reverse effect - it stimulates the clumping of platelets, thus raising the risk of clotting.

BBC Health 11/01/03
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'Diabetes nearly cost me my sight'

Tara Straton was diagnosed a diabetic at the age of just nine. Doctors prescribed insulin and said her condition would need carefully monitoring. But Tara, now 26, said that despite her diagnosis she was never told the high risks she was running by ignoring her condition. Now she backs the government's National Service Framework for Diabetes, published this week, which promises more information and regular check-ups for diabetics like herself.

BBC Health 11/03/01
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FBI issues nationwide warning on ricin toxin

The FBI yesterday issued a nationwide alert about ricin days after the arrest in London of seven men allegedly connected with an Algerian extremist group and the discovery of a small amount of the poison in their flat.

The Independent 11/03/02
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Health guide has shoppers stewing in their own juice

Five apples a day will keep the doctor away but five glasses of fruit juice will not, the Government said yesterday. Each apple counts as one portion of fruit towards the "five-a-day" healthy eating target, but no matter how many glasses of fruit juice you drink they count as only one, the Department of Health said.

The Independent 11/03/02
The Guardian 11/03/02
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Lifesaving Invite

Thousands more women in Wirral are being offered potentially life saving examinations after a major extension of the borough' s breas t cancer screening programme. From this week, all women aged between 50 and 70 who are registered with a GP in Wirral will be invited to the Breast Centre at Clatter-bridge Hospital once every three years for a routine mammogram.

Daily Post 10/01/03
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Ministers were told: lock up asylum-seekers to avert terror

Ministers were told by senior civil servants in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 atrocity that the only way to stop terrorists exploiting the immigration system was to lock up all asylum-seekers on arrival.

The Times 11/01/03
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Padded pants 'cut elderly fractures'

Elderly people at risk of falling and fracturing their hips should be prescribed padded pants, a study suggests. Researchers in Germany say specially designed pants can reduce fractures by as much as 40%.

BBC Health 11/01/03
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Transplant hope for girl without kidneys

Seven-year-old Delise Walters has beaten cancer - not just once, but twice. For two years she has lived without any kidneys, after losing both in separate cancer strikes three years apart. Now Delise will receive a transplant gift of life from her mother Romina.

Manchester Evening News
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Waiting time for operations falls

The number of people waiting for more than 12 months for an NHS operation fell to 12,500 in November, down 62 per cent since November 2001, putting the government on track to meet its next set of targets to cut maximum waiting times. However, the number of people on the waiting list -1,025,100 - was 10,600 higher than the year before. Liam Fox, shadow health secretary, said: "This is yet further evidence of the failure of the government's health policy."

Financial Times 11/01/03




:: Kieran 1:41 AM [+] ::
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Une valise a ses cotés - Today's Grey Literature
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Transport Statistics Road Casualties in Great Britain: Quarterly Provisional Estimates: First and Second Quarter 2002 (Experimental) provides estimates of personal injury road accidents and their casualties. The introduction of this series enables emerging road casualty trends to be identified throughout the year.

Regular followers of my other blog will no that I can be a bit of a malcontent so it is with great pleasure I see that the Cabinet Office have produced Life Satisfaction: The state of knowledge and implications for government. It notes that there is a large and rapidly growing body of research that investigates what makes people satisfied with their lives. This paper summarises what has been found and suggests how this research may be useful for policy-makers. (I'm kinda hoping it'll give me the answers too!)

Our friends at the Commission for Health Improvement have recently produced:

Report of a clinical governance review at Burnley Health Care NHS Trust. The trust has a calm, welcoming atmosphere and staff are friendly and committed to the trust. Patients and service users told CHI that they are satisfied with the service provided by the trust. Staff view the quality of patient care as a high priority. There are examples of changes in practice, which are a result of feedback from patients and their families. A number of staff from across the trust have undertaken further training to prepare them for carrying out additional roles. This should improve the quality of care received by patients. The trust has demonstrated a strong commitment to understanding and addressing diversity and ethnicity issues.

Report of a clinical governance review at West Kent NHS and Social Care Trust of which they conclude the trust provides a broad range of services that are generally valued by service users and by healthcare partners. However, there are significant differences in resources and services across the trust and service users experience the trust differently depending which of the localities and sites they attend. There is a need to further engage and involve service users, carers and the public across all aspects of clinical governance.
:: Kieran 11:48 PM [+] ::
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Une valise a ses cotés - Today's Grey Literature
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Concern over Ricin Poison in the Environment details what steps to take if someone is suspected of suffering from ricin poisoning. This following the arrest of several individuals in London for teh alleged production of ricin poison.

Nurses Agencies National Minimum Standards and Regulations sets out national minimum standards for nurses' agencies, which form the basis on which the new National Care Standards Commission will determine whether nurses' agencies provide appropriate safeguards for service users to whom they supply nurses.

Delivering 21st century IT for the NHS: National Patient Record Analysis Service: strategic outline case seeks views from current and potential stakeholders, and users of national patient record analysis service (NPRAS) in order to prepare and agree the range and scope of services to be included within NPRAS to provide most benefit.

The activities of Sure Start programmes to promote the speech and language development of children are very varied. Promoting language development reflects the key objective of improving a child's ability to learn. The Sure Start Language Measure Information Pack: 2002-03 - Revised has been designed to monitor changes in the language skills of two year olds in Sure Start communities.


:: Kieran 11:04 PM [+] ::
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La valise est perdue parmi des étrangers - Grey Literature We Missed
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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Survey of Public Attitudes to Quality of Life and to the Environment establishes attitudes to the environment, and knowledge and behaviour regarding environment issues. In addition it explores views on a wider range of issues relating to people's quality of life.

Department of Health consultation and its proposals for change, Adopter Preparation and Assessment and the Operation of Adoption Panels: A fundamental review, need to be seen in the context of this wider reform programme. Responses will inform decisions over how best to implement the new adoption legislation.

Graduate Primary Care Workers: The content and process of one year, full time training - A discussion paper September 2002. Central guidance on graduate worker roles and responsibilities is currently being developed. However, to assist those planning now to develop training courses for the new graduate primary care workers, this discussion paper summarises briefly the policy framework; evidence from the literature; and expert professional and service user opinion based on discussions with primary care stakeholders. The paper is one of two prepared to assist those planning the new graduate workers' education and training.

Conscious Sedation in the Termination of Pregnancy details the recommedations of a Department of Health Expert Group on conscious sedation in the termination of pregnancy.

The National Service Framework for Older People: Champion's toolkit is intended for use by champions either as a research tool for national background facts and figures, or as a stand-alone resource that can be worked through to help them think about and focus on the main issues of their individual role.

The Consultation on the Proposed Content of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health Regulations invites comments on the proposed content of regulations to be made under powers contained in the NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 concerning the core functions and constitution of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health. In particluar it concerns the functions regulations and the membership and procedure regulations.

The Health Development Agency produced An Evaluation Resource to Support the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy an overview of evaluation for those involved in implementing the teenage pregnancy strategy.

There is a Emergency planning and response to major incidents: Summary of roles and responsibilities from the Department of Health, detailing the main roles and responsibilities of NHS organisations and the Department of Health in planning for and responding to major incidents.

In terms of mental health Women’s Mental Health:
Into the Mainstream Strategic Development of Mental Health Care for Women summary, Women's Mental Health: Into the Mainstream, Secure Futures for Women: Making a Difference. The aim of this consultation is to provide information, to generate discussion and to outline a direction to help achieve a mainstream approach to gender in mental health service organisation and delivery.

Not a million miles away form mental health the Consultant Contract: Framework outlines the new contract that is designed to provide a much more effective system of planning and timetabling consultants' duties and activities for the NHS.

Pharmacy Workforce in the New NHS
sets out the Department of Health's views on the changes that are needed to make the best use of the pharmacy workforce to deliver the aims of 'Pharmacy in the Future.' It provides an opportunity for comment on the way forward, but does not represent settled policy and may, therefore, be subject to change.
From the housing corporation The big picture: Regeneration and Housing Associations which covers projects on the regeneration of housing associations and draws lessons from them.

In the same series The big picture: young people and housing associations presents good practice ideas on how to meet the diverse needs of young people through housing management, strategic planning, community development and partnership working.

Sector Study 19: Decent Homes, the 'Decent Homes Standard' was introduced by the Government in July 2001, with the intention of improving the standard of social housing in England, and to provide common-sense tests to ensure that such accommodation is fit for the 21st century. This report assesses housing association properties against the Standard.

Meanwhile Sector Study 18. Young tenants - a special case? Explores the experiences, attitudes and expectations of a small number of young (under 25 years of age) housing association tenants.

From the Department of Work and Pensions there is Important Information for Carers: Changes to the help availableThis leaflet gives information on changes to the help the Government provides for carers - in particular changes to invalid care allowance.

The Home Office research on Refugee Integration: Can research synthesis inform policy? - Feasibility study report aims to help refugees to develop their potential and contribute to the cultural and economic life of the country. This study explores the feasibility of applying systematic reviews to government policies with refugees.

Programmes for Black and Asian Offenders on Probation: Lessons for developing practice aims to to identify what is known about the criminogenic needs of black and Asian offenders, the probation provision currently available and effective approaches to reducing their reoffending.

The Audit Commission have produced Quality of Life Performance Indicators: Feedback
which outlines the background to that pilot process that developed a set of quality indicators with more than 90 local authorities during the financial year 2001-02 and also recommends a set of quality of life indicators to local authorities.

Concern is expressed by the Health and Safety Executive in Noise Levels and Noise Exposure of Workers in Pubs and Clubs: A review of the literature which reviews the literature published since 1985 to establish what is known about noise levels and noise exposure in this working environment. The aim is to determine whether there is a noise problem, practical measures that can be adopted to control the level of noise exposure, methods adopted by local authorities to enforce control, and what needs to be done to ensure employees in pubs and clubs are provided with a safe working environment.

The HSE also publish the Review of Existing Supporting Scientific Knowledge to Underpin Standards of Good Practice for Key Work: Related stressors - Phase one
to identify the best available evidence on the ways in which nine stressors affect individuals at work. The aim was to conduct the review objectively, pulling together and assessing the quality of evidence around a given research question and making recommendations for practice.

On the subject of stress they also produce Stress Research and Stress Management: Putting theory to work Executive to provide and overview, within the conceptual framework implied by current health and safety legislation, of the scientific literature relating to the nature and health effects of work stress and to the nature and effectiveness of stress management programmes.

The First Implementation of the Sure Start Language Measure a summary from the Department of Education for Skills which presents an overview of the statistical baseline results and some feedback on the use of the Sure Start Language Measure, with plans for future development and implementation.

The Office of the e-Envoy's Channels Framework promotes a co-ordinated channel strategy across the public sector, and provides a decision making tool kit for those involved in formulating such a strategy. Comments on this living document are welcomed either via the discussion forum or by email.

:: Kieran 4:20 AM [+] ::
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Une valise a ses cotés - Today's Grey Literature
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The Department of Health are behind Domiciliary care agencies: National Minimum Standards and Regulations the standards which form the criteria by which the National Care Standards Commission will determine whether an agency provides care to the required standard. They ensure the quality of personal care and support people receive whilst living in their own home.

Department for Education and Skills have produced Sure start: supporting families who have children with special needs and disabilities which aims to ensure that families who have children with special needs or a disability have access to Sure Start programmes; it helps programmes to build and share knowledge about existing information and support available to parents and carers.

A few bits of grey lit that sneaked through our net are included here! Adoption and Permanence Taskforce second annual report. The Adoption & Permanence Taskforce has taken an important role in the wider reforms, working alongside local councils to support them to improve their performance and prepare to meet the National Adoption Standards which become mandatory in April next year. The work programme with Phase 3 councils, identified in this report, will further benefit vulnerable children.

Adoption: National Minimum Standards Regulations: Local Authority Adoption Services in England: consultation document contains the draft regulations and national minimum standards applicable to local authorities' adoption services in England under Part III of the Care Standards Act 2000. Together these regulations and standards will form the basis of the new regulatory framework under the 2000 Act for local authorities' adoption services in England. The draft regulations and draft standards are issued for consultation and may change following receipt of responses to the consultation document.

Sister publication to that above National Minimum Standards for voluntary adoption agencies in England and Wales: consultation document contains the draft regulations and national minimum standards applicable to bodies in England and Wales who wish to be registered as a voluntary adoption agency (VAA) under Part II of the Care Standards Act 2000. It also contains a partial regulatory impact assessment which discusses the benefits and likely costs of complying with the new regulations and standards. Together these regulations and standards will form the basis of the new regulatory framework under the 2000 Act for the regulation of VAAs in England and Wales by the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) in England and the National Assembly for Wales in Wales.

Occupational health smart cards: operating protocols. In a major new NHS initiative, a three-year contract (2001-04) has been awarded to introduce Occupational Health Smart Cards for hospital doctors in training. By March 2004 over 30,000 doctors in training throughout the NHS will be issued with personalised photo-bearing smart cards. Depending on the outcome of the pilot exercise, consideration will be given to extending the use of the smart cards over time to other hospital staff groups.

Occupational Therapy Services: Summary information for 2001-02 (England) provides statistical data about patient contacts with the occupational therapy services in England.

Speech and Language therapy services: summary information for 2001-02: England provides statistical data about patient contacts with speech and language therapy staff in England.

Reforming NHS financial workflows: introducing payment by results. The new NHS needs a financial framework that is responsive to patients' choices, in which there is plurality and diversity of services and where NHS organisations have greater freedom. A new financial system must also help maximise the benefit to patients from the substantial growth in NHS funding. This document outlines how this will happen.

The Accidental Injury Task Force was established to provide the basis for cross-Government action and to identify steps that would have the greatest impact in preventing injury. This report Preventing accidental injury: priorities for action: report to the Chief Medical Officer from The Accidental Injury Task Force offers a practical way forward, drawing on research literature from around the world.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have produced Ammonia in the United Kingdom and Ammonia in the United Kingdom: key points summarising the long-term research programme of DEFRA and the devolved administrations on ammonia, why ammonia is a cause for concern and what research suggests could be done to tackle the problems.

While on the subject of pollution Office of the Deputy Prime Minister planning policy guidance note 23: planning and pollution control consultation paper: English Nature’s response does what it says on the tin.

The Office for National Statistics Public Sector Finances: September 2002 provides provisional estimates of the public finances for September 2002.

Crime, policing and justice: the experience of older people: findings from the British Crime Survey, England and Wales looks at the victimisation of older people, their worry about crime, use of security precautions and confidence in the Police and the Criminal Justice System based on data from the British Crime Survey.






:: Kieran 11:45 PM [+] ::
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She Dazzled Me with Basil - Random Jottings
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Mic has prepared a feedback form for our pilot crew who recieve the contents of the news sections of this blog by e-mail. If anybody stumbling accross the blog wishes to throw in their two pen'north feel free.
:: Kieran 2:31 PM [+] ::
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Une valise a ses cotés - Today's Grey Literature
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The Home Office first off today with Good Practice Models and Guidance for the Internet Industry on Chat Services, Instant Messaging and Web Based Services which outlines models of good practice and has been produced with the help of the internet industry and children's charities. It highlights good practice in chat, messaging and web services which will help make children safer on-line.

The Department of Health have Modernising NHS Pathology: Consultation response which summarises responses to the Department of Health consultation on modernising NHS pathology and sets out how the Department intends to refine and take forward the consultation proposals.
:: Kieran 11:48 PM [+] ::
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She Dazzled Me with Basil - Random Jottings
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Shameful self publicity from Fade's media whore!


:: Kieran 3:49 AM [+] ::
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Another 15 Minutes... Health News via Fade
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Acid 'stops Listeria in its tracks'

Scientists believe they may have found a way to defeat a potentially lethal food bug. Researchers in the United States say a simple organic acid can stop Listeria in its tracks.

BBC Health 04/01/03
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Appeal: Your £30,000 will bring help to the desperate

Some of Britain's most desperate and isolated people will be offered a lifeline this year thanks to readers of The Independent on Sunday. Our Christmas appeal on behalf of SANELINE, the mental health helpline, has raised more than £30,000, to go directly towards helping those who suffer as a result of mental illness.

The Independent 05/01/03
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Battling cancer through art

Professional artist Michele Petrone uses his talent to help people with cancer. Eight years ago Mr Petrone was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease and since then he has had three relapses. But, throughout his battle with cancer, Mr Petrone, 39, found comfort from his art and is now keen to share that with others.

BBC Health 05/01/03
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Dentists abandon low-paid NHS work

British dentists now earn more than half their income from treating private patients, deepening fears about the collapse of low-cost dental care on the NHS.

The Independent 05/01/03
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Flawed aid

The problems of medical negligence litigation ('Milburn eyes no-fault system for settling NHS claims', News, last week) are bound to the flaws of legal aid, which funds most cases: lawyers are paid to bring cases.

The Observer 05/01/03
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Great Ormond Street fights US lawyers for rights over Peter Pan

Even the battles in Neverland between Peter Pan and his arch-rival Captain Hook were never quite this nasty. In a court in far off San Francisco, Britain's most famous children's hospital is fighting one of the world's leading law schools for control over the Land of Everlasting Youth. At stake are the lucrative rights owned by Great Ormond Street Hospital in London to royalties from Peter Pan under a secretive bequest to the hospital by his creator, the Scottish author Sir James Barrie.

The Independent 05/01/03
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How I turned into a new woman

If most of your life has been spent in a fruitless quest for health, fitness and wellbeing, read on. I now have all the answers and, frankly, couldn't be more smug or pleased with myself. It's really very simple: you have to sign up for a week's yoga and hiking in Spain. Former music biz supremo Ian Flooks and London-based yoga teacher Alexa Harris run Yogahikes. It's loosely based on the monastic and spartan Los Angeles Ashram where the rich and famous knock themselves into shape for their next movies. (Julia Roberts was allegedly asked to leave the Ashram when she refused to join fellow inmates in the bathroom queue.)

The Observer 05/01/03
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Ops best for heart patients

An operation offers heart attack victims a better prognosis than drug treatment, researchers have found. A review of studies carried out in the area found the procedure, angioplasty, is better in both the shorter and longer term than thrombolytic therapy which uses drugs to dissolve blood clots.

BBC Health 05/01/03
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Patients miss out on therapy as cancer cash is squandered

Cancer patients are being deprived of vital treatment because millions of pounds promised by the Government for front-line services is being wasted on bureaucracy, leading health charities say.

The Independent 05/01/03
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Viagra eye damage fears eased

Fears that taking the anti-impotence drug Viagra may damage nerves in the eye have been eased by a new study. However, researchers found that the drug may cause damage to the optic nerves of people whose blood vessels are already in a poor state.

BBC Health 04/01/03
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Why Gordon must never be PM

Problems in agreeing a new NHS pay structure are becoming increasingly intractable. Then there is the growing public sector deficit. And what about health, transport, education and pensions? These are hugely significant issues for almost everyone in Britain and have far greater day-to-day effects than Tony's fourth 'flashpoint', the systemic crisis in Africa, significant as this is.

The Observer 05/01/03
:: Kieran 2:22 AM [+] ::
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