New stroke and major trauma centres to improve care for Londoners

Source: Healthcare for London

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Year of publication: July 2009

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: Following a consultation to improve stroke and trauma services, a committee of PCTs decided to introduce four major trauma centres, eight hyper-acute stroke units and better local services across London, with the new facilities expected to open by summer 2011.
The centres will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will be staffed by consultant-led specialist teams with access to the best facilities. These centres will be linked to local units delivering high quality general and rehabilitation care. The new services are expected to save around 500 lives a year and reduce long-term disability for thousands.

Length of publication: 1 web page

Some important notes: Follow this link to view the news release

Three-digit number for non-emergency healthcare services

Source: OFCOM

Follow this link for consultation

Date of publication: July 2009

Publication type: Website

In a nutshell: OFCOM on behalf of the Department of Health have issued a consultation on the implementation of a new three digit number for non-emergency healthcare services. The consultation opened on 09 July 2009 and closes on the 20 August 2009. OFCOM recommends choosing 111. The consultation document outlines four options and makes the case for choosing 111.

Length of publication: 1 page with link to 62 page .pdf consultation document

Some important notes: Additional information can be found from the Department of Health press release New Phone Number to Make Urgent Care Easier to Access and Three-digit number (3DN) to access non-emergency health care webpage.

Greater Manchester Urgent Care Clinical Congress 2009

Source: Commissioning Business Service

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Year of Publication: July 2009

Publication type:  Website

In a nutshell: The Greater Manchester (GM) Urgent Care Clinical Congress took place on 10th July, 2009 and was designed to build a shared understanding of the case for change to optimise the delivery of urgent care services for local people.  The event, run by the Association of GM PCTs and the GM Urgent Care Network, had valuable support and input from the Commissioning Business Service (CBS).  Speakers included Mike Farrar, senior A&E doctors and experienced GPs.  The congress engaged a wide range of clinical, managerial and patient stakeholders to establish the current situation across GM and the priorities for action on urgent care across all services.  The GM Urgent Care Network will work to implement congress recommendations.

Length of publication: Webpage with link to pdf output report

Swine flu: UK planning assumptions

Source: Department of Health

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Year of publication: July 2009

Publication type: Best Practice

In a nutshell: This document contains revised planning assumptions in relation to the current A(H1N1) Swine Flu pandemic. The assumptions are intended to assist local planning across all public and private sector organisations.  Planning assumptions are for both pan-UK and local areas, to take account of the potential variation in epidemic profile from one local area to another.  These assumptions are revised, reasonable worst case scenarios for planning purposes, based on what has been learned from the virus so far. They are not predictions of how the Department of Health expects the virus to behave. They support effective planning for every eventuality.

Length of publication: 6 pages 

Acknowledgement: http://www.info4local.gov.uk

Unscheduled care facilities: minimum requirements

Source: College of Emergency Medicine

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Year of publication: July 2009

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: The College of Emergency Medicine have set out what they consider to be the minimum requirements for unscheduled care units which see the less seriously ill or injured, so that they can provide safe, high quality, appropriately supervised and cost efficient care for patients. 

The recommended standards are relevant to both stand-alone units and co-located urgent care facilities. 

Length of publication: 4 pages

Some important notes: These minimum requirements have been published in collaboration with the Faculty of Emergency Nursing and the Emergency Nurse Consultant Association

Medical and prehospital care training in UK fire and rescue services

 Source: Emergency Medicine Journal 2009, 26 (8) p. 601-603

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Date of publication: August 2009

Publication type: Journal Article

In a nutshell: A survey of medical training for Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) in the UK, to understand the level of medical training given to fire fighters. Results indicate that 66% of Fire and rescue services train fire fighters beyond the minimum standards required for casualty stabilisation. However, training varies across the UK. Authors call for a national standard to define a common set of medical competencies for training to be created in partnership with Chief Fire Officers’ Association.

Length of publication: 3 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Pandemic influenza: guidance on meeting the needs of vulnerable people

Source: Department of Health

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Year of publication: August 2009

Publication type: Best practice

In a nutshell: This updated guidance supports organisations in their planning for those people who are, or may become, vulnerable during a pandemic and to ensure these groups are accounted for in pandemic flu plans. The guidance covers planning assumptions; business continuity arrangements for vulnerable people; partnership working; access to anti-virals; and communication.

Length of publication: 22 pages

Some important notes: This is an update of draft guidance published in August 2008 and supercedes Pandemic influenza: guidance for planning for vulnerable groups – draft for comment