Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides
DH: Women who are breastfeeding should continue while receiving antiviral treatment or prophylaxis as they are not contraindicated in breastfeeding. In particular mothers should feed on demand. Where possible additional formula should not be used so that the infant receives as much of the maternal antibodies as possible.
If a mother is ill, she should continue breastfeeding and increase feeding frequency. If she becomes too ill to feed then expressing milk may still be possible. It the baby becomes too ill to breastfeed then expressed milk should be used. The risk for swine influenza transmission through breast milk is unknown. However, reports of viraemia with seasonal influenza infection are rare.
NICE: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recently issued a guideline to improve the recognition & diagnosis of coeliac disease. Coeliac disease is a condition in which the immune system in a person’s intestine (gut) reacts to a protein called gluten.
The immune reaction makes part of the gut inflamed, which can make it difficult for the person to absorb nutrients from their food. Coeliac disease can cause a wide range of symptoms in the digestive system (such as indigestion, diarrhoea or constipation) and in the rest of the body (such as tiredness, weight loss and bone thinning).
The disease is believed to be present in up to 1 in 100 of the population, although only about 10–15% of people with the condition are clinically diagnosed. Many of the remainder may be well, but many will have chronic problems such as lethargy, or gastrointestinal symptoms - these can result in chronic ill health and often extensive medical investigation without a definite diagnosis.
Press release ~ Recognition and assessment of coeliac disease ~ Coeliac UK ~
NICE: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recently published its 300th piece of interventional procedures (IP) guidance. Launched in 2002, the IP programme produces recommendations on whether interventional procedures used for diagnosis or treatment are safe enough and work well enough for routine use in the NHS. It does not make recommendations to the NHS about whether or not they should fund procedures.
The first IP guidance NICE produced was uterine artery embolisation for fibroids and the 300th, issued last week, is keyhole treatment of a prolapsed (slipped) lumbar disc by endoscope-guided laser.
WAG: New standards to improve access to diagnosis & treatment of sarcomas have been published by the Welsh Assembly Government. Sarcomas are a rare & diverse group of cancers that can be broadly divided into those of bone and those of soft tissue. When combined sarcomas are the 21st most common cancer type. As a result, a GP may only expect to see one or two patients with this type of cancer throughout their working lifetime.
The standards aim to improve the co-ordination of care with clearly designated diagnostic clinics which should speed up diagnosis. For those patients found to have sarcoma, a rapid onward referral, as part of a clinical pathway, to an appropriate specialist team will ensure prompt treatment by experts in this rare disease. The NHS in Wales must submit plans to the Assembly Government by the end of September on how it will achieve the new standards by June 2012.
The standards aim to improve the co-ordination of care with clearly designated diagnostic clinics which should speed up diagnosis. For those patients found to have sarcoma, a rapid onward referral, as part of a clinical pathway, to an appropriate specialist team will ensure prompt treatment by experts in this rare disease. The NHS in Wales must submit plans to the Assembly Government by the end of September on how it will achieve the new standards by June 2012.
Press release ~ WAG - Health and social care ~ National Cancer Standards – 2008 Consultation Exercise for the Standards for the Management of Sarcoma Patients ~ National Standards for Sarcoma Services 2009 ~ Other National Standards for Cancer Services
ScotGov: Revised standards for hospital cleaning - incorporating the latest technology & modern methods – have been announced. All hospitals across Scotland will adopt the new measures, which will also be used to scrutinise standards when Health Protection Scotland carry out quarterly audits.
The National Cleaning Specification sets out specific cleaning frequencies which boards have to achieve. The specification is linked to the national monitoring tool which ensures boards deliver to these frequencies. Key points in the revised standards, published by Health Facilities Scotland, include:
* Guidance on the use of steam cleaners
* Further awareness of the importance of hand hygiene and health & safety
* A colour coding system to ensure specific clothes, etc. are used for specific areas
Press release ~ Health Facilities Scotland ~
Defra: A public consultation (closes on 7 August 2009) on guidance aimed at helping organisations to manage & reduce their greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions has been launched by Defra and DECC – See ‘Consultations’ section for more information.
