Mental Health: Victims and Witnesses with Mental Health Conditions and Disorders

This guidance identifies the principles relevant to victims and witnesses with mental health conditions or disorders. Read Crown Prosecution Service guidance here

NIHR Signal National tobacco control policies linked to improvements in children’s health

National smoke-free legislation in advanced economies is linked to reduced rates of preterm birth, asthma hospitalisations and serious throat and chest infections in children. Comprehensive smoke-free policies appear to be more effective than policies with only partial or selective introduction.


Smoking increases health risks for the smoker and others through second-hand exposure. Although the number of people smoking in the UK is falling, eight million UK adults still smoke, and an estimated five million children are exposed to second-hand smoke. Children are vulnerable to smoke due to their small, developing lungs and immune systems.


From the NIHR Dissemination Centre

General Data Protection Regulation - will you be ready?

From 25 May 2018, all health organisations and arm's-length bodies will need to demonstrate compliance with new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements. GDPR will replace the Data Protection Directive (1995).

Employers are encouraged to plan ahead for the operational changes and consider how they will raise awareness of the new requirements and evidence they meet them. This will include:

• Planning and resourcing the appointment of a data protection officer whose job description is compliant with GDPR requirements.
• Revising information governance and related policies, addressing accountability, data protection officer reporting arrangements and statutory reporting requirements.
• Creating an action/project plan which includes a set of measures to meet the requirements, ideally endorsed by the board.

A seminar on 16 January 2018 in London and 18 January 2018 in Manchester will provide an overview of the GDPR and of the Data Protection Bill insofar as it relates to the processing of personal data within the health and social care context and incorporates and supplements the GDPR.

Learning from post-accident investigations to ensure patient safety

Jeremy Hunt explains the thinking behind the Health Service Safety Investigations Bill, and recent steps to improve patient safety.

Last week we published the draft Health Service Safety Investigations Bill, which represents a landmark moment for safety and transparency in the NHS, and a victory for the many campaigners who in the wake of the Mid Staffs and Morecambe Bay scandals have called for major change.

The Health Service Safety Investigations Bill aims to take Martin’s insights on post-accident investigations in the transport industry and apply them to healthcare. It will establish, for the first time, a fully independent investigations body responsible for finding answers and embedding new practices across the NHS in the wake of a healthcare error.

New bill to improve patient safety

The draft Health Service Safety Investigations Bill will establish and enshrine in law the powers of the Health Service Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB).

The HSSIB will take forward the work of the current Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB), which came into operation in April 2017 as a division of NHS Improvement.

Under the proposals, the HSSIB will be independent of the NHS and at arm’s length from government. It will have far-reaching access to investigate serious safety incidents or risks to patient safety.

Immigration health surcharge: removal of assisted conception services

Amendments to the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2015 were introduced into Parliament on 19 July 2017.

As a result, from 21 August 2017, assisted conception services will no longer be included in the scope of services available for free for those who pay the immigration health surcharge. CCGs should update their online and publicly available policies in this area, to ensure potential users of these services are aware of the changes. Further information can be found in the explanatory memorandum for these regulations. 

Meeting the health needs of people with learning disabilities

RCN staff guidance defining learning disabilities, outlining some specific health needs and explaining relevant legislation, which includes obtaining consent. It also details specialist services, how to support people accessing services and lists a number of helpful resources and organisations. 

 

Meeting the health needs of people with learning disabilities: RCN guidance for nursing staff

Recovering the cost of NHS treatments given to overseas visitors

New regulations requiring all hospitals to check upfront whether patients are eligible for free NHS treatment will be in place under plans to recover the cost of health treatments provided to patients not ordinarily resident in the UK.

Legal changes will require all hospitals to establish whether patients are eligible for free treatment, and to charge upfront those who are not eligible, for any non-urgent, planned care. The law will change from April 2017.

Changes to immigration rules explained

NHS Employers has updated its Tier 2 immigration route questions and answers page in advance of changes to immigration rules from April 2017.

The main changes that employers need to be aware of are:

• increased salary thresholds for Tier 2 applications to £30,000
• nursing, medical radiographers and paramedics are exempt from salary threshold increases until July 2019
• the introduction of the Immigration Skills Charge - this is £1,000 per year of the sponsorship and is to be paid upfront
• changes to criminal record checks for all Tier 2 applicants.

Centre for Mental Health welcomes Prime Minister's commitment to tackle injustices and deliver on Five Year Forward View

Centre for Mental Health today welcomed the Prime Minister’s pledge to improve mental health support in schools, to enhance suicide prevention measures and to tackle some of the many injustices faced by people with mental health problems.

Responding to today’s speech by the Prime Minister to the Charity Commission, Centre for Mental Health deputy chief executive Andy Bell said: “The Prime Minister made a clear commitment on the steps of Downing Street to improve access to mental health support and put right the social injustices that too many face in Britain today. We hope that today’s speech will bring about concerted action across government to make those changes and create a fairer society.

Care Act compliance

Belinda Schwehr addresses how councils can take steps to avoid legal challenge in their commissioning practices

The Health Service Medical supplies (Costs) Bill (Bill 72 of 2016-17)

This briefing from the House of Commons Library summarises the contents of the Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Bill 2016-17, the background on the issues and relevant comment. The bill is related to the control of medicine prices.

Upcoming changes to Tier 2 immigration

The first stage of changes the government is making to the Tier 2 points-based immigration route are due to take effect in Autumn 2016. The second stage of changes will take effect from April 2017.

The key stage one changes are:

• an increase in salary thresholds from £20,8000 to £25,000 for experienced workers
• the introduction of a new separate salary threshold group for new entrants into Tier 2
• nursing will remain on the shortage occupation list (SoL) but from the Autumn, a Resident Labour Market Test must be carried out when recruiting nurses from outside of the European Economic Area.

Care Act 2014: Guidance for occupational therapists - Prevention

This is one of a series of guides to the Care Act 2014 that has been developed by the College of Occupational Therapists. This one covers prevention and will assist occupational therapy practitioners, to understand and deliver some of the key concepts and duties within the Act.