Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides
DH: The 2m people with apotentially fatal lung-disease who have not been diagnosed could now be identified & treated if the NHS follows a new action plan for respiratory problems. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is mainly caused by smoking. It kills around 23,000 people per year, making it the UK’s fifth biggest killer disease.
The Department of Health has published A Companion Document to the Outcomes Strategy for COPD and Asthma, which if followed across the NHS could save an estimated 7,800 lives annually. The NHS currently spends £1bn a year treating COPD, but implementing the top 5 actions (out of 45) for COPD patients alone could lead to savings of nearly £500m over 10 years.
It costs nearly 10 times more to treat severe COPD than the mild form of the disease, so improved diagnosis rates will save money.
It costs nearly 10 times more to treat severe COPD than the mild form of the disease, so improved diagnosis rates will save money.
Press release ~ NHS companion document ~ Outcomes strategy for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease & asthma in England (2011)
FSA: The Food Standards Agency has published a toolkit & newsletter for stakeholders to support their participation in the Agency’s Play it Safe campaign. This campaign is helping to ensure that food bought, cooked & eaten during the 2012 Olympics is safe.
SC: Last week, the Sentencing Council published a new guideline for judges & magistrates on the sentencing of dangerous dog offences, which will come into effect on 20 August 2012. The Council has also published a response to the consultation which summarises some of the very useful feedback and comments they received.
Press release & links
Press release & links
