Drug misuse prevention

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) - This quality standard covers the prevention or delay of harmful use of drugs by children, young people and adults most likely to start using drugs, or already experimenting or using drugs occasionally.  Click here to read further.

This quality standard covers the management of Parkinson’s disease in adults. It does not include treatment of parkinsonism not caused by Parkinson’s disease. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.[QS164]

New: Quality standard


This quality standard covers the management of Parkinson’s disease in adults. It does not include treatment of parkinsonism not caused by Parkinson’s disease. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.

Timetable for implementation of the workforce disability equality standard

NHS England has published an indicative timetable for implementation of the workforce disability equality standard (WDES).

The WDES will be mandated via the NHS Standard Contract for 2017-19. The NHS Standard Contract for 2017-19 sets out that NHS trusts and foundation trusts will have to implement the WDES in the first year.

Data security and protection for health and care organisations

Document outlining action expected from health and care organisations in 2017 to 2018, to implement recommendations by the National Data Guardian.   It has been updated.

Standard for physiotherapy degree apprenticeship gets seal of approval

The CSP has received confirmation that the Institute for Apprenticeships has approved the standard for the physiotherapy degree apprenticeship.

The standard sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours that individuals will need to demonstrate as they progress through the new apprenticeship route to qualify as a physiotherapist.

It makes clear that the apprenticeship will be at honours degree level and that all apprentices will need to follow a degree programme, for which Health and Care Professions Council approval and CSP accreditation have been secured.

Handbook - Hospital Pharmacy Standards

The standards handbook from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is a supporting resource which has been updated and published online alongside the RPS professional standards for hospital pharmacy services.

Families should feel supported when their child is born preterm, says NICE

Children born preterm should be offered developmental check-ups to help identify any problems or disorders early on, NICE has said in its latest draft quality standard. 

The draft standard aims to improve the follow-up care that is provided to families from when they start planning the discharge of their preterm child from hospital.

General Medical Council approves new internal medicine curriculum

A new internal medicine (IM) curriculum has been approved by the General Medical Council.

IM stage one training is a new three year programme and will replace core medical training (CMT) from August 2019.

New Framework launched to define the role of Advanced Clinical Practitioners in healthcare

Health Education England (HEE), in partnership with NHS Improvement and NHS England, has launched a new national framework that sets out a vision for the further development of Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs).

The framework (National Framework for Multi-Professional Advanced Clinical Practice) includes, for the first time, a national definition and standards for the multi-professional advanced level of practice.

NHS England outlines future of congenital heart disease services

NHS England has set out plans to implement exacting new standards that will ensure patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) receive the best possible care.

Hospitals that do not currently fulfil these standards, which have been developed by specialists and patients, must either show that they have a programme to do so and meet strict milestones, or stop providing treatment.

Healthy Child Record Standard

The Professional Records Standards Body (PRSB) has launched a new set of information standards, to ensure that children receive appropriate care by setting out what information on screening tests, immunisations and developmental milestones should be securely shared for their treatment, care and wellbeing.

Launch of advanced clinical practice framework

The new national multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England has been launched by Health Education England.

Clinical Nurse Specialist in Early Pregnancy Care

The role of the clinical nurse specialist in early pregnancy care is intended to enhance the care for women who may be concerned about a complication in early pregnancy.

This RCN document outlines the key skills and knowledge required to develop the role of this specialist nurse/midwife and should provide clear direction for commissioners and managers when creating roles to support best practice in local service provision for women and their families.

Quarter of hospital patients denied rapid review – even on weekdays

More than one in four patients do not see a medical consultant within 14 hours of being admitted to hospital – even on weekdays, new data from NHS England reveals.

The information shows that on weekdays across all trusts, 73 per cent of patients see a consultant within the period, which is a key requirement under national “seven day service” standards.

The figure is even lower – 70.3 per cent – at weekends.

To obtain this article copy and paste the post into an email and send to: libraryw@uhcw.nhs.uk

Sickle cell and thalassaemia screening: handbook for laboratories

These documents from Public Health England set out policy and standards for laboratories working with the sickle cell and thalassaemia (SCT) screening programme.

Updated employment check standards

NHS Employers has updated the employment check standards for 2017.

While the legal requirements have remained largely unchanged, this year’s review has responded to requests for additional clarity on certain elements of the requirements.  The check standards cover six areas:

• identity
• right to work
• employment history and references
• professional registration and qualifications
• criminal record
• work health assessments.

See also the updated employment checks document cross reference tool.

Revised guidance on confidentiality published

The HCPC has relaunched its Guidance on confidentiality, which provides advice for registrants on how they should handle and share information about service users.

Modernising Radiotherapy Services in England – developing proposals for future service models consultation

NHS England has launched a consultation on radiotherapy services. It is seeking feedback on its proposals for a new specification for radiotherapy services, following the £130 million investment to upgrade radiotherapy equipment, which was announced last October.

The online consultation closes on 18 December 2017. 

Dementia assessment and improvement framework

An evidence-based framework from NHS Improvement to support and enable directors of nursing and medical directors to achieve ‘outstanding’ care standards for those living with dementia during their stay in hospital.

NMC to amend English language requirements for applicants trained outside the UK

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is making alternative options available for nurses and midwives, trained outside the UK, to demonstrate their English language capability.