Department of Health & NICE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Gaining international recognition for sustainability

NHS organisations have the opportunity to be recognised internationally for the work they are doing on sustainability. The NHS Sustainable Development Unit would like organisations to sign up to the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals project, to be seen as global ambassadors for sustainability.

Health and Social Care Act: decision to veto the disclosure of the Transition Risk Register

The Secretary of State, Andrew Lansley, made a statement to Parliament explaining his decision to veto the disclosure of the Transition Risk Register. He has also provided Parliament with a written Statement of Reasons for the decision.

Draft Bill to modernise adult care and support in England

The Queen’s Speech included a draft bill to modernise adult care and support in England, setting out what support people could expect from government and what action the government would take to help people plan, prepare and make informed choices about their care.

UPDATE FROM NICE

NICE is developing guidance aimed at:

• improving the mental health of people in prison, following the latest topic referral from the Department of Health.
• public health guidance for those working with offenders to help them with the early identification and management of young people who display sexually harmful behaviour.

The DH has asked NICE to develop the following Public Health Guidance:

• Delaying the onset of disability, frailty and dementia in later life
• Older people with multiple co-morbidities - integrating health and social care
• Primary, secondary and tertiary interventions to promote mental wellbeing and independence of older people
• Offenders: prevention and early treatment of mental health problems.

Recruitment to the NICE Quality Standards Advisory Committees

NICE are recruiting for a number of additional members for the Quality Standards Advisory Committees. Applicants will have experience of working with multi-professional committees or working groups, an understanding of the breadth of the health and social care system, including mechanisms required to support continuous quality improvement, such as guidelines and audit. Deadline for applications: 29 May 2012.