Consultations
NICE: New guidance being developed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) aims to improve the quality of life for children in the care system. .
The joint guidance, which focuses on the physical & emotional health and wellbeing for looked-after children & young people, is now open for consultation. This document includes draft recommendations which have been issued at this stage for consultation only: guidance has not yet been issued to the NHS, local authorities and the wider public, private, voluntary and community sectors.
Organisations wishing to submit comments are invited to do so by Wednesday 14 April 2010. Only stakeholders can comment formally on consultations, but organisations in England, Wales & Northern Ireland can register to be a stakeholder at anytime during the process. Final guidance is due to be published in September 2010.
Press release ~ Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) ~ Draft guidance for consultation ~ Stakeholder registration
NICE: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is developing guidance, in collaboration with the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), to help the NHS provide better & more effective antenatal services for pregnant women faced with difficult social circumstances. As part of this process, the draft version of the guideline, which contains recommendations for healthcare professionals, has been published and is now available for public consultation.
This new guideline will focus on improving antenatal services for young women aged under 20, non-English speaking women, recent migrants, women with a substance misuse problem and those experiencing domestic abuse.
Comments on the draft recommendations contained in the guideline must be received by 12 April 2010. Only registered stakeholders such as professional & government organisations, patient & carer groups and companies can comment formally on consultations, but organisations can register as a stakeholder.
Press release ~ Consultation: Pregnant women with complex social factors: a model for service provision ~ Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) ~ Stakeholder registration ~ Related reports
ScotGov: The Scottish Government, along with the other devolved administrations and Department for Health, has launched a consultation (closes on 9 May 2010) on alcohol labelling. Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said that if compliance with the existing voluntary code does not improve, then mandatory labelling will be a 'strong option'. The voluntary agreement, which has not been universally implemented, states that labels should include:
* Information on the number of units
* A message about responsible drinking
* A logo & link for Drinkaware
* The recommended NHS limits
* Advice on drinking when pregnant
The alcohol industry entered a voluntary agreement on labelling in 2007. Industry compliance with this agreement has been poor - just 15% of labels provide all 5 elements, according to an independent report published by the Department of Health.
ScotGov press release ~ Related DH press release ~ Department of Health - alcohol labelling consultation ~ ScotGov: Alcohol information
LSC: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) has published a discussion paper – ‘Quality Assurance for Advocates’ - setting out proposed quality standards for publicly-funded criminal advocacy. Along with many practising advocates, the LSC has long promoted the need for rigorous, independent evaluation of all advocates, regardless of professional background, to ensure a consistent, high-quality service in which both the public and the legal professions can be confident.
The proposals have been developed on the basis of extensive work & research commissioned by the LSC over the last 3 years. With the publication of the paper, the LSC is handing over its lead in developing a quality assurance scheme to a Joint Advocacy Group, composed of the primary regulators of legal advocacy. This group is accountable to the Legal Services Board for delivery of a scheme for criminal advocacy by mid 2011.
The discussion paper will be open to feedback to inform their final minimum requirements until 10 May 2010. Feedback is welcomed on parallel schemes for family & civil advocacy schemes which are yet to be developed.
Press release ~ Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates ~ Legal Aid: A market-based approach to reform
NICE: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently appraising the use of liraglutide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Liraglutide works by stimulating the release of insulin; it also reduces the appetite and therefore food intake by slowing gastric emptying.
In preliminary recommendations published last week, NICE has recommended liraglutide 1.2 mg daily as part of triple therapy regimens (in combination with metformin and sulfonylurea, or metformin and a thiazolidinedione) as an option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, when control of blood glucose remains or becomes inadequate (HbA1c ≥ 7.5%, or other higher level agreed with the individual).
However, NICE is minded not to recommend liraglutide as a treatment option for type 2 diabetes, 1.2mg daily in dual therapy. The independent Appraisal Committee felt that there were uncertainties in the data which need clarification from the manufacturer – Novo Nordisk. Liraglutide, 1.8 mg daily, is also not recommended for the treatment of people with type 2 diabetes.
This draft guidance has been issued for consultation (Closing date for comments - 5 March 2010); NICE has not yet issued final guidance to the NHS. The manufacturer now has opportunity to consider & respond to the comments made by the Committee.
Press release ~ Diabetes - liraglutide: appraisal consultation document ~ Type 2 Diabetes - newer agents (partial update of CG66)
NICE: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently developing new public health guidance on dietary & physical activity interventions for weight management in pregnancy & after childbirth. Draft recommendations have been published on the NICE for public consultation (closes on 18 March 2010).
The aim of this new guidance is to help health professionals support women who are pregnant or who are planning a pregnancy and mothers who have had a baby in the last 2 years. The draft recommendations cover four key areas: preparing for pregnancy; pregnant women & women who may become pregnant - particularly those with a BMI over 30kg/m2; and supporting women following childbirth.
These recommendations will complement existing NICE guidance on obesity, maternal & child nutrition, antenatal care, postnatal care, physical activity, behaviour change, antenatal & postnatal mental health and diabetes in pregnancy.
HSE: The Event Safety Guide (HSG 195) requires updating to reflect legislative changes & improvements in industry practices. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE), in collaboration with the event industry and other key stakeholders will soon be in a position to start work on the production of new material for the guide.
The plan is for the revised guide to have a greater focus on risk assessment and management of health & safety. The revision will also provide an opportunity to improve the existing format by the addition of case studies, practical information on risk management and changes to the structure of the guide to make it even easier to use.
If you wish to be considered as a working group practitioner please contact Adrian Tinson (the project coordinator) - Adrian.Tinson@hse.gsi.gov.uk. Alternatively, as an interested party, you can register your interest separately via the Event Industry Forum website. Registration will allow you to comment on material as it is being drafted. Comments will be fed back to chapter chairs.
