Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides
NICE: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellencehas launched the first ever national guidelines on childhood constipation. Whilst not life threatening, the condition is very common, affecting up to 30% of the child population in England. Those affected by constipation can experience real problems, socially & psychologically, often requiring long-term support. Their families can be affected too, some experiencing years of misery.
The signs & symptoms of constipation are rarely recognised. They include loss of appetite, stomach ache, & pain when going to the loo but, if identified early (and with the right treatment), problems can be resolved quickly & simply.
Press release ~ Diagnosis and management of idiopathic childhood constipation in primary and secondary care
NICE: Final guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommends somatropin (a synthetic form of the human growth hormone) as a treatment option for 2 growth disorders in children: short stature homeobox-containing gene (SHOX) deficiency, and for those who were smaller than expected at birth and whose growth has not become normal by the age of four or later.
Press release ~ Human growth hormone (somatropin) for the treatment of growth failure in children (review)
NICE: Around 1 in 4 men aged 40 & above have lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), such as needing to urinate urgently or frequently, retention of urine, hesitancy & incontinence. The symptoms can have a considerable impact on a man’s physical, mental and social wellbeing. They can also be caused by an underlying health concern, such as a urinary tract infection or prostate cancer.
There was previously no national guidance for diagnosing & treating these symptoms in adult men, which meant that healthcare professionals were not always using the most effective treatments. The new guideline from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) aims to set a national standard so that all patients receive the same high quality treatments wherever they go.
NICE: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has published updated recommendations on the diagnosis & removal of ‘low risk’ basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) in primary care in its guidance ‘Improving outcomes in cancer for people with skin tumours including melanoma’.
The updated recommendation makes clear that Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) or Local Health Boards (LHBs) should ensure that all GPs and GPwSIs (GPs with a Special Interest) who diagnose, manage & excise low-risk BCCs in the community are fully accredited to do so, and undergo continuous professional development in the diagnosis and management of skin lesions to maintain their accreditation. For both groups (GPs and GPwSIs) this accreditation should be performed locally by PCTs or LHBs.
Press release ~ Improving Outcomes for People with Skin Tumours including Melanoma ~ Guidance and competencies for the provision of services using GPs with Special Interests (GPwSIs): dermatology and skin surgery
NICE: A procedure which involves ‘cooling’ newborn babies who are at risk of severe disability or death due to oxygen deprivation, has been deemed ‘safe & effective’ enough for NHS use, according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, which has produced guidance for the NHS outlining the circumstances in which it can be offered for these vulnerable babies.
Every year in the UK more than 1,000 otherwise healthy babies born at full term die or suffer brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen at birth or during labour. Babies who do survive can be left with lifelong disability such as cerebral palsy.
Press release ~ Therapeutic hypothermia with intracorporeal temperature monitoring for hypoxic perinatal brain injury
NICE: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has been unable to recommend sorafenib (Nexavar, Bayer) for treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because its high cost could not be justified by its marginal benefit.
LEASE: Setting up a recognised tenants’ association (RTA) is often the first step residential leaseholders should take when there are issues with management & service charges, as the RTA enables the block to ‘speak with one voice’. So says The Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE), the government-funded free legal advice service.
If leaseholders also want to embark on major collective projects like changing management, challenging service charges outright or even buying the freehold, then forming a RTA is the easiest way of ensuring that everyone is involved & committed before the whole process is begun
It is important to seek formal recognition as an RTA, because the law then gives the association the powers & rights under leasehold law that it needs to be really effective. The most detailed handbook for setting up a residents’ association is available for sale from the Federation of Private Residents’ Associations, a non-profit association of associations for private sector blocks of flats.
Press release ~ LEASE advisory publications ~ Federation of Private Residents’ Associations – RTA information pack (scroll down) ~ Residential Property Tribunal Service
MCA: Coastguards are encouraging families to stay safe at the seaside this summer and, to make sure that children, parents, grandparents & teachers feel well prepared for their day out on the coast, the coastguard has just launched a new set of games & activities at http://kids.direct.gov.uk/. Click on the world, click on the watch station in the ‘places icon’.
Press release ~ Good Beach Guide ~ www.visitbritain.co.uk ~ www.visitscotland.com ~ www.visitwales.co.uk ~ www.discovernorthernireland.com
DfT: New safety ratings for motorcycle helmets were announced last week by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning as he unveiled a new website to give motorcyclists the best advice & information on choosing a helmet. The site also includes demonstrations of how the SHARP tests are carried out and how to make sure a helmet fits properly.
An extra 27 motorcycle helmets have been rated by SHARP - the Department for Transport’s Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme – taking the total number of ratings published past the 200 mark.
FSA: The Food Standards Agency has produced 2 new pieces of guidance that will reduce the administrative burdens of the meat industry & farmers, helping them to comply with the law, while maintaining consumer protection:
* One for the meat products industry will make the process of correctly labelling any added ingredients easier
* The second is a one-page document that will help farmers to keep only the necessary records on animal feed
