A New Website to Improve Services for Older People

This new website will help public sector staff to better understand the needs of older people. The website launched on Older People's Day (1 October) will help professionals to tailor their work so older people have greater choice and control over the support they receive. The website is part of the government's Independent Living Strategy. This new resource was developed by the Office for Disability Issues, working with the Centre for Policy on Ageing and the National Development Team for Inclusion. Click here to view the website.

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Practice Management Network gets off the ground

A new network for managers in general practice officially got off the ground today with the launch of a website promising to raise the profile of practice managers and increase their influence on the policy agenda. Managers need to register for the network before getting access to all areas of the site, which includes a national map of local networks. The site also features an online version of the access guide currently being distributed to practices in printed form. Improving access, responding to patients: a 'how-to' guide for practices is available to all on the site. The network, started with support from the DH and several stakeholder organisations is keen to work with PCTs both at a practical level to support the registration drive, and in the wider sense to foster more productive working relationships and better communications.

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NHS Live at Primary Care LIVE

For the third consecutive year, NHS Live will be at this year’s Primary Care LIVE conferences and willl be at the NHS Institute stand to hear about your projects and to demonstrate the website and project directory. The NHS Institute will have a large presence at the event, hosting eight interactive, innovative workshops and showcasing a range of products in the exhibition village.
Workshops will cover a variety of themes including Emergency and Urgent Care for Children and Young People, Thinking Differently, ThinkGlucose, Productive Improvement Techniques and many others. To find out more click here. Primary Care LIVE has national reach into primary care, to find out more about this event visit the website. Primary Care LIVE: London ExCel 30 September and 1 October 2009, Manchester Central 4 and 5 November 2009

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Mental Capacity Act Website Launched

Social Care Institute for Execllence has launched two new websites to support workers, carers, researchers and lawyers who are empowered to make decisions on behalf of someone else. The first is called Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Resource and is intended to be the first port of call for those wanting to know more in relation to the Mental Capacity Act. The second website is the Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) Resource is a one stop shop for information on independant mental capacity advocacy.

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First NHS Hull Membership Conference - 9th JUne 2009

There are just a few places left for the Membership Conference in Hull on 9th June. There will be representation from over 80 NHS trusts with a range of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) professionals, Membership Managers, Charitable and Voluntary organisations, communications personnel and members represented at the meeting.
It promises to be an excellent arena for the sharing of best practice and an opportunity to listen to some thought-provoking plenary sessions. The keynote speaker is Mark Britnell, Director General of Commissioning, Department of Health.
A key objective of the conference is to ensure that best practice is shared. AFTER the conference has taken place, all relevant papers and reports available will be uploaded at http://www.nhsmembershiphull.co.uk/., plus the presentations and conference documents immediately after the event, but not only that - you are welcome to submit any relevant documents that you would like to share with your colleagues across the UK.
You can find further information and register for the conference at the website above or email sue@pinkatpink.com. Sue is from Pink, the events agency which is organising the conference.

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NHS Evidence website - now live!

The NHS Evidence website is now live. NHS Evidence includes a simple search box, but also has a "tab" at the top of the page to "conduct a specialist search". When you click on this tab, it shows links to the electronic journals and books, healthcare databases, specialist libraries and Athens account information. Access to these is currently still from the familiar National Library for Health access points.
The old National Library for Health page is still live and functional, the only real change being the colour and the change of name "Health information resources – formerly National Library for Health".

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Releasing Time to Care - Live Webinar Thursday 28 May 2009

Join a distinguished panel of experts in a discussion on how technology can help increase NHS productivity. In particular, explore how information and communication technologies can release time to care and enable a productive ward using technologies such as wireless networks, asset tracking and unified communications. Click here for further information.
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Book review - 'Simplicity is the Key' by Trevor Gay

'Simplicity is the Key' by Trevor Gay makes excellent reading. As we move deeper into the current economic crisis, and we also grapple with the hugely complex issues surrounding the ongoing shift from secondary to primary care this book offers a refreshing opportunity to step back, take a deep breath and think more simply. (book review by Rhian Last, GP Practice Manager).
Trevor and his wife Annie are running in this year's London Marathon and funds from the sale of the book will go towards their chosen charity 'Carers UK'. For further information why not visit the Simplicity is the Key Website.

HSJ Quality Improvement Online Seminar

Substantial challenges lie ahead in the NHS. This HSJ online seminar has been tailored to help you provide quality services and experiences, and to effectively demonstrate that you are doing so. Interact in real-time with our panel of expert speakers who will tackle your concerns and ensure you are ready to deliver quality services. This free online seminar is taking place on 14 May 2009 at 9.30am, register now!

YOUR RESEARCH PROJECT - How and Where to Start

The RD funding website has recently published a research process flowchart, which maps the different stages of the research process and provides hints, tips and checklists for researchers at all levels.

Surgical Safety Checklist

The target in England is for introduction of the surgical safety checklist by Feb 2010. For those of you who can't wait, then how about joining in the Sprint. All the tools you need, including a starter Kit can be found here . To support the introduction of this life-saving checklist in England, Sarah Fraser will be available for virtual support anywhere in the world using conference calls and video. If youwould like some support in implementing the checklist please email Sarah.

This is a short 6 minute video demonstrating the use of the new WHO Surgical Safety Checklist from Great Ormond Street Hospital. You can see the WHO version by clikcing here. There is also a version from Torontohtt and a version on how NOT to perform the safe surgery checklist!

RDInfo website - A tool for Health & Social Care Researches

RDInfo is a NIHR funded programme tasked with provided details of funding, learning and advice to health and social care researchers. The service is free to use and the website has RSS Feeds, its own blog, facility for individuals to register their areas of interest and receive weekly email updates.

No Delays Achiever Website - Closure

The No Delays Achiever website will be switched off at the end of March 2009. Now that the December 2008 date has passed and trusts are achieving the 18-week wait, it is felt that the level of support offered by the No Delays Achiever is no longer needed. All of the tools will be transferred to the NHS Institute website so you will still be able to access them. View a copy of the 'Improving Patient Flow in the NHS - Case Studies on Reducing Delays'.

The NHS BSA Dental Services Division is to become NHS Dental Services

As from 5 December, the NHS BSA Dental Services Division (DSD) is to be known as NHS Dental Services. A new website address also takes effect on this date: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/dental (live 5th December).

Effective Care - Effective Communication: Living and Dying with COPD DVD

Effective Care - Effective Communication: Living and Dying with COPD is an educational package from IMPRESS consisting of a DVD and a CD of PowerPoint slides. The DVD comprises short film clips of patients' and carers' stories and views on diagnosis and end of life dialogue and an 'expert panel' discussion on ways to approach these issues with tips on how to improve the consultation. The CD also draws out the key learning points, references and links to the latest evidence and publications and consultation on the COPD Clinical Strategy. Click here for further information and to order a copy.

Thinking differently about how patients access Primary Care Services

The Royal College of General Practitioners, the Department of Health and the NHS Institute for innovation and Improvement are collaborating on a project. The work is looking at how we could think differently about how patients could access primary care services. The project is aiming to learn from current best practice within health systems in the UK and from leading edge practice in other countries. It is also looking to see if anything can be learnt from how non healthcare organisations create an exceptional experience for their customers. In order to capture this kind of information a website has been set up, please visit the site and share any examples that you know of, submit an idea or comment on someone else’s idea.

The Social Enterprise Support Centre

The Social Enterprise Support Centre's role is to help the directors, managers and staff of social enterprises to develop their capacity to serve the particular groups of disadvantaged people who make up their market. The Social Enterprise Support Centre supports social enterprises to become financially sustainable, deliver quality services, and where appropriate, supports their efforts to gain and deliver on public service contracts. View their website here.

Real Life Patient Stories - A useful resource for clinicians and Patients

Two new websites have been launched featuring a collection of real life health stories and personal experiences of illness and health.

The two sites, Healthtalkonline, and Youthhealthtalk, have replaced DIPEx, and the new sites include the UK’s largest collection of real life health stories and aim to support individuals who feel isolated as a result of a particular conditions featuring patients talking on videos and on audio clips as well as through transcripts.

All content on the site is based on research carried out by academics from Oxford University from interviews with almost 200 people. The sites are designed to be a useful resource for clinicians who want to better understand people’s perspectives as well as patients.

New Leeds Palliative Care Website.

The new Palliative Care Website has been developed by Marie Curie Delivering Choice and NHS Leeds in conjunction with their stakeholders: St Gemma’s, Sue Ryder Care Wheatfields Hospice, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, LTHT and Leeds City Council.

The site is aimed at Patients, Carers and Staff, and offers advice, contact information and guidance.

Visit the site here.

World Health Organisation Calls for Evidence on Alcohol Strategy

The World Health Organisation is to hold a public hearing on its global strategy to combat the harmful use of alcohol.

Click here for further information