Quality and safety news - 27 September 2012

Some of the resources linked to are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.

News highlights are:

Alzheimer’s Disease International: World Alzheimer Report 2012. This report shares results from a worldwide survey conducted with people with dementia and carers on their personal experiences of stigma. The report provides information on stigma and dementia, highlights best practices in the field of dementia, and makes recommendations which could help reduce stigma. The Executive Summary highlights the key findings and recommendations. The full report includes quotes from carers and people with dementia, further analysis of the survey responses and a selection of essays from people with expertise and experience relevant to dementia and stigma.

DH: Dementia campaign launches. The Department of Health has launched a campaign, supported by the Alzheimer’s Society, to encourage people to talk to loved ones showing signs of dementia. The three-month campaign in England, launched on World Alzheimer’s Day, will raise awareness of the condition, early signs and symptoms and how to seek help. It includes television and print advertising.
Sir Michael Parkinson, Fiona Phillips and Gordon Banks have taken part in 4 short films, where they talk about the importance of memory, the most memorable moments of their lives and their experience of having a loved one with dementia: View the series of short films.
There are also links to the Dementia challenge and advice on how to bring up the topic with a loved one.

DH: Chief Nursing Officer Bulletin. September 2012. This edition includes articles on Aidan Slowie - NHS Olympian; ambulatory emergency care; driving the data; dementia early diagnosis campaign; organ donation; and digital innovation.

DH: One month left to have your say on the draft Care and Support Bill. There is one month left to comment on the draft Care and Support Bill and have your say on the largest overhaul of the law around adult care and support in 60 years. The draft Care and Support Bill site allows you to find out about the draft Bill and comment online.

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS): Who Cares? The Future of Adult Care and Support in Northern Ireland - Consultation. In Northern Ireland, like the rest of the UK and Europe, adult care and support provision is coming under increasing pressure for range of reasons, such as an ageing population, increased expectations and a difficult financial climate. It is widely believed that the current care and support system will be unable to cope with the demands of the future unless significant changes are made. For this reason the Department has launched this discussion document for a six month consultation as a first step in a three stage process to reform the provision and funding of adult care and support services. The consultation closes on 5 March 2013.
News: We need your views on the future of adult care and support.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland: Annual Review of Healthcare Improvement Scotland work 2011–12. A review of the work of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, incorporating the review of the Scottish Health Council, will be conducted by Alex Neil MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well-being on Tuesday 9 October 2012.

NHS Commissioning Board: Developing the culture of compassionate care: creating a new vision and strategy for nurses, midwives and care-givers. A proposed new vision for nursing, midwifery and care-giving sets out the values of compassionate care and asks how they can be developed further across health and social care. Views on the issues contained in the document are being sought in order to inform the strategy for the development of the nursing, midwifery and care-giving professions. The closing date is 16th November 2012.
RCN: New values plan welcomed.

NHS Commissioning Board: Our NHS care objectives – a draft mandate to the NHS Commissioning Board. The NHS Commissioning Board Authority has published its Mandate consultation response. Professor Malcolm Grant, Chair, NHS Commissioning Board Authority said: “The mandate is fundamental to the Government’s vision of a ‘liberated NHS’. Putting the NHS Outcomes Framework at the heart of the mandate signals an unprecedented and welcome shift towards a system focused on outcomes, not processes".

NHS Diabetes: Paediatric diabetes teams struggle to secure due funding. Many paediatric diabetes units in England are struggling to secure the extra funding made available in April by a new best practice tariff, despite meeting its mandatory standards, NHS Diabetes has warned following on from a letter sent by NHS Diabetes Director Anna Morton asking for a formal progress update on the new tariff.

Scottish Government: The Scottish Health Survey 2011: Annual Report of the Scottish Health Survey for 2011. Summary of key findings. This report contains data on general and mental health, dental health, alcohol, smoking, diet, physical activity, obesity and cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension and accidents.
Volume 1 - Adults. Volume focussing on adult health.
Volume 2 - Children. Volume focussing on child health.