Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides

FSA: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recently reminded people of the importance of good hygiene practice when handling & cooking raw bean sprouts. An investigation into an outbreak of salmonella by the Health Protection Agency and Health Protection Scotland has identified possible links to raw bean sprouts. There have been 58 cases reported in England since the start of August and 15 cases in Scotland.
Press release ~ Food bugs
 
NICE: Too many women faced with difficult social circumstances are not accessing or engaging with maternity services with potential negative consequences for them and their baby's health.  Now, a new NHS guideline calls for the re-organisation of these services to improve access to & uptake of antenatal care for women in difficult social circumstances, thereby helping to prevent complications and potentially save the lives of these mothers and their babies.
Press release ~ A model for service provision for pregnant women with complex social factors ~ see press release for other links
 
NICE: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published its 200th technology appraisal guidance (of which 83% have been positive).  A partial update of the existing NICE guidance on the use of peginterferon alfa (2a or 2b) and ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, this new guidance reflects changes in the marketing authorisations for peginterferon alfa (2a and 2b), and recommends their wider use and, where appropriate, shorter treatment durations, for adults with the disease.
Press release ~ Hepatitis C - peginterferon alfa and ribavirin
 
Newswire – TUCNearly one in five workers wants to work from home, but is being prevented from doing so by their employer.  To mark National Work From Home Day (last Friday), which was  organised by WorkWise UK, the TUC is offering five reasons for businesses to try out home working (see press release).
Press release ~ The Third Work-Life Balance Employee Survey: Main findings ~ www.workwiseuk.org ~ TUC/CBI/BERR Telework Agreement outlines some of the issues to consider when introducing homeworking:
 
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