Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides

NICENICE's latest quality standard on bacterial meningitis in children & young people can help GPs and other primary care professionals spot early signs & symptoms of the condition. Meningococcal meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia, known collectively as meningococcal disease, remain a leading cause of mortality in early childhood causing death in around 1 in 10 cases.
 
This is despite the introduction of the meningitis C vaccine, which has reduced the incidence of meningococcal disease in recent years. Prompt diagnosis & treatment is critical, yet identifying children with meningococcal disease can be difficult.
Press release & links
 
NICEPatients with blood clots can be now be offered rivaroxaban as an alternative to warfarin for the treatment of blood clots following latest guidance from NICE. Warfarin has been used to treat the condition in the past, but some patients find it inconvenient due to the careful monitoring, regular blood tests, and frequent clinic visits required to ensure the blood's clotting properties remain within acceptable limits.
Press release & links
 
NICE: From April 2013, councils in England will be taking on the role of improving the public health of their communities. To help councils with this new role, NICE has started developing a range of local government public health briefings, the first set of which were published last week - Tobacco, physical activity & workplace health
 
Improving public health is of increasing importance due to the rise in health inequalities and preventable disease. The guidance provides help for those working in local government through advice on which actions are most effective in improving health, and provide best value for money.
Press release & links
 
DECC: New guidance to help local authorities in England improve the energy efficiency of their residential housing has been published. The guidance, issued under the Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA), asks local authorities to publish a report on their plans to achieve improved energy efficiency by 31 March 2013. 

Local authorities will be required to identify practicable and cost-effective measures likely to result in significant energy reduction in all residential accommodation in their area.
Press release & links
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