New NICE Interventional procedures guidance [IPG613] Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for fetal critical aortic stenosis

New NICE Interventional procedures guidance [IPG613] Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for fetal critical aortic stenosis
Published date: May 2018 Next review: May 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for fetal critical aortic stenosis. This involves placing a catheter into the baby’s heart, while the baby is still in the womb. The aim is to help the heart develop properly.


For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg613

New NICE Interventional procedures guidance [IPG612] Microinvasive subconjunctival insertion of a trans-scleral gelatin stent for primary open-angle glaucoma

New NICE Interventional procedures guidance [IPG612] Microinvasive subconjunctival insertion of a trans-scleral gelatin stent for primary open-angle glaucoma


Published date: April 2018  Next review: April 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on microinvasive subconjunctival insertion of a trans-scleral gelatin stent for primary open-angle glaucoma in adults. This involves putting a tiny gelatin tube (stent) under the skin at the base of the eye to create a new drainage channel for excess fluid.


For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg612

New NICE Interventional procedures guidance [IPG611] Prostate artery embolisation for lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia

Interventional procedures guidance [IPG611] Prostate artery embolisation for lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia
Published date: April 2018


Evidence-based recommendations on prostate artery embolisation for lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia in adults. This involves blocking the blood vessels supplying the prostate with tiny plastic particles.


for full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg611

NHS Performance Statistics - January 2018

Combined Performance Summary

• Urgent and emergency care – Accident and Emergency, NHS111, Ambulances, Delayed Transfers of Care 
• Planned care – Referral to Treatment, Diagnostics, Mixed Sex Accommodation, NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care, Patient Reported Outcome Measures 
• Cancer - Cancer Waiting Times, Cancer Registrations, Cancer Emergency Presentations, Cancer Survival Estimates 
• Mental Health - Early Intervention in Psychosis, Out of Area Placements, Children and Young People with an Eating Disorder, Contacts and Referrals, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies

NHS performance statistics - December 2017

Combined Performance Summary

• Urgent and emergency care – Accident and Emergency, NHS111, Ambulances, Delayed Transfers of Care 
• Planned care – Referral to Treatment, Diagnostics, Mixed Sex Accommodation, NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care, Patient Reported Outcome Measures 
• Cancer - Cancer Waiting Times, Cancer Registrations, Cancer Emergency Presentations, Cancer Survival Estimates 
• Mental Health - Early Intervention in Psychosis, Out of Area Placements, Children and Young People with an Eating Disorder, Contacts and Referrals, Improving Access to Psychological Therapies

Scientific Meeting » Harmonizing Clinical Data Collection in Community-Based Treatment Programs for First-Episode Psychosis

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) plans to develop an Early Psychosis Intervention Network (EPINET) among Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) programs for first-episode psychosis (FEP). EPINET will be based on the principles of “learning healthcare,” in which science, informatics, and organizational culture are aligned to achieve continuous improvement, innovation, and implementation of best practices in clinical services.  Click here for article.

Combined Performance Summary - October 2017

This publication from NHS England summarises the data around NHS performance for October 2017. It contains a summary of the monthly performance statistics on:

• NHS 111
• ambulance quality indicators
• A&E attendances and emergency admissions
• waiting times for diagnostic tests, referral to treatment for consultant-led elective care and cancer services;
• delayed transfers of care; and
• early intervention in psychosis

NIHR Signal Long-term antibiotics likely to reduce risk of recurrent cellulitis

Antibiotics may reduce the risk of leg cellulitis by about two thirds, in adults who have had at least two previous episodes, but only while they take the antibiotics. There is limited evidence measuring the efficacy of other forms of prevention
.
A review of five studies showed that the risk of developing repeated cellulitis was reduced in participants who were taking long-term (more than six months) penicillin or erythromycin, compared with a control group. Once the antibiotic course had finished, participants’ risk of recurrent cellulitis was no different from the control group.


Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that spreads and worsens quickly. Risk of recurrence is high in people with a predisposing condition such as poor leg circulation.


This review explored the effectiveness of various preventative interventions for recurrent cellulitis. It highlights the need to explore non-pharmacological options, such as compression stockings, moisturisers or exercise. These could be cheaper and avoid the risk of increasing antibiotic resistance, but few studies of these options were identified.


From the NIHR Dissemination Centre

NIHR Signal Individual support of nurses using electronic medicine monitors can improve HIV treatment

Use of electronic pill bottles that record when they are opened and follow-up discussion of the printed readouts with nurses improved HIV outcomes. It is thought that patients became more reliable in taking the medication, which can have complicated scheduling. Overall, the HIV virus in the blood and the risk of treatment failure were lower in the group of patients who had access to this intervention compared to regular care.


In addition to being more effective, the programme also reduced the estimated lifetime cost and disease burden per patient, considering quality and quantity of life lived.


The readouts were used to help focus attention on any patterns of medication usage so that strategies could be discussed to improve adherence. As non-adherence is the main barrier to effective management of HIV, any measures that improve it are welcomed. However, the intervention tested here requires several hours of training for the nurses delivering it and may not be that easy to introduce in practice. Evaluation of the approach in non-trial settings is necessary before wider implementation.

Combined Performance Summary - August 2017

This publication from NHS England summarises the data around NHS performance for August 2017. It contains a summary of the monthly performance statistics on:

• NHS 111
• ambulance quality indicators
• A&E attendances and emergency admissions
• waiting times for diagnostic tests, referral to treatment for consultant-led elective care and cancer services;
• delayed transfers of care; and
• early intervention in psychosis

Occupational therapy in neonatal services and early intervention

This publication from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, provides specific evidence-based recommendations which describe the best and most effective practice for occupational therapy for high-risk infants in neonatal and early intervention settings.

Cost-Benefit Analysis Favors Intensive Early Intervention for Autism

Early therapeutic intervention is considered best practice for children with an autism spectrum disorder. But many insurance carriers and agencies are reluctant to pay for the care.

New research suggests the costs associated with the intensive treatment are quickly recovered as the children will need less services over time.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects one in every 68 children in the United States. The neuro-developmental disorder presents as difficulty socializing and communicating needs and desires, and often is accompanied by restricted interests or activities.

Combined Performance Summary - May 2017

This publication from NHS England summarises the data around NHS performance for May 2017.

It contains a summary of the monthly performance statistics on:

• NHS 111
• ambulance quality indicators
• A&E attendances and emergency admissions
• waiting times for diagnostic tests, referral to treatment for consultant-led elective care and cancer services;
• delayed transfers of care; and
• early intervention in psychosis

Combined performance summary: April 2017

This publication from NHS England summarises the data around NHS performance for April 2017. It finds that the long-term trend of increased demand on urgent and emergency care and elective activity continues and that waiting time standards for A&E waiting times, ambulance response times and cancer waiting times were not met.

Monthly performance statistics, March 2017

Performance statistics for March 2017 have been published by NHS England. These cover the following:

• NHS 111
• ambulance quality indicators
• A&E attendances and emergency admissions
• waiting times for diagnostic tests, referral to treatment for consultant-led elective care and cancer services;
• delayed transfers of care; and
• early intervention in psychosis

FREED: A new, early intervention service for young adults with eating disorders

A trial which aims to ensure that young adults with eating disorders receive help and treatment sooner has launched in Leeds.

The Yorkshire Centre for Eating Disorders, run by Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, is one of only four sites in the country, and the first outside of London, to be involved in the national FREED study.

It went live in January, in association with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), the Health Foundation, and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, where the team is being led by Ulrike Schmidt.

FREED stands for ‘First Episode and Rapid Early Intervention Service for Young Adults with Eating Disorders’ and is for young people aged 18 to 25 who have developed an eating disorder within the last three years.

Report highlights need for early intervention for diabetic foot ulcers

A report published by NHS Digital and Diabetes UK finds that early intervention is important in the management of diabetic foot disease, with people who receive expert care most quickly having the best outcomes.

It also reports that the basic framework for effective prevention and management of diabetic foot disease in England and Wales is often missing.

Suicide prevention: interim report

This report presents interim findings from an inquiry that will go on to inform the updated suicide prevention strategy. It argues that the government should prioritise a clear implementation strategy and increase support for public mental health and early intervention services if it is to bring down the suicide rate. Ahead of the final report, the interim report highlights areas for action: a clear implementation strategy; improving services for those who are vulnerable to suicide; developing a consensus statement on sharing information with families; the need for more timely and consistent data to help prevent suicides; and greater adherence to media guidelines for reporting of suicides.

Combined Performance Summary, October 2016

Performance statistics for October 2016 have been released by NHS England, covering the following:

• the NHS 111 service;
• ambulance quality indicators;
• A&E attendances and emergency admissions;
• waiting times for diagnostic tests, referral to treatment for consultant-led elective care, cancer services;
• delayed transfers of care; and
• early intervention in psychosis.

A combined performance summary is available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/combined-performance-summary/

Draft guideline for neonatal services and early intervention

A new practice guideline focusing on occupational therapy in neonatal services and early intervention is currently under development, and the guideline group would like your views on the consultation draft.