ONLINE RESOURCES
WEB WATCH Useful information, research and updates. Visit www.NHDmag.com for full listings. NICE UPDATES VITAMIN D: INCREASING SUPPLEMENT USE IN AT-RISK GROUPS - PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINE (PH56) Initially published Nov 2014. Updated May 2017. This guideline covers vitamin D supplement use. It aims to prevent vitamin D deficiency among at-risk groups including infants and children aged under four, pregnant and breastfeeding women, particularly teenagers and young women, people over 65, people who have low or no exposure to the sun and people with darker skin. This guideline includes recommendations on how to: • increase access to vitamin D supplements including those provided as part of the Healthy Start supplements scheme; • increase local availability of vitamin D supplements for at-risk groups; • ensure health professionals recommend vitamin D supplements; • raise awareness of the importance of vitamin D supplements among the local population. Updates were required following the publication of the SACN vitamin D and health report in 2016. Full details can be found at www.nice.org.uk/ guidance/ph56
OBESITY: WORKING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES - PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINE (PH42) Initially published Nov 2012. Updated June 2017. This guideline covers how local communities, with support from local organisations and networks, can help prevent people from becoming overweight or obese, or help them lose weight. It aims to support sustainable and community-wide action to achieve this. The guideline has been updated to include people with disabilities. Recommendations include: • developing a sustainable, community-wide approach to obesity; • strategic leadership and coordinating local action; • involving the community, local businesses and social enterprises; • local authorities and the NHS as exemplars of good practice; • planning and implementing systems for monitoring and evaluation; • scrutiny and accountability. For more information and the full guideline visit:www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph42
EATING DISORDERS: RECOGNITION AND TREATMENT - NICE GUIDELINE (NG69) Published May 2017. This guideline covers assessment, treatment; monitoring and inpatient care for children, young people and adults with eating disorders. It aims to improve the care people receive by detailing the most effective treatments. This guideline includes recommendations on: • identifying eating disorders; • treating anorexia nervosa; • treating binge eating disorder; • treating bulimia nervosa; • physical and mental health comorbidities; • assessing, monitoring and managing physical health; • inpatient and day patient care. This guideline updates and replaces NICE guideline CG9, published in January 2004. Full details can be found at www.nice.org.uk/ guidance/ng69
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NHS CHOICES BEHIND THE HEADLINES - YOUR GUIDE TO THE SCIENCE THAT MAKES THE NEWS An excellent feature on the NHS Choices website, which is regularly updated to debunk health-related news. Headlines explained include those on diet, lifestyle and general health information. The headlines are unpicked by explaining the topic of discussion clearly, where the research or news story came from, what the research entailed and how reliable the news actually is. The pages also signpost readers to useful and correct information. Links to the pages can be followed via the NHS Choices Twitter and Facebook pages - @NHSChoices. Well worth saving as one of your favourites and share it with patients and colleagues - www.nhs.uk/ News/Pages/NewsIndex.aspx
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AVAILABILITY OF GLUTEN-FREE FOODS ON NHS PRESCRIPTION - CONSULTATION NOW CLOSED Published May 2017. This consultation was seeking views on proposals to make changes to the availability of gluten-free foods that are prescribed on the NHS. ‘Changes to the prescribing of GF foods could save NHS resources and reduce the primary care prescription drugs bill by up to £25.7 million per annum.’ The options considered: • Option 1: Make no changes to the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc.) Regulations 2004. Under this option, GF foods would continue to be prescribed in primary care at NHS expense as now. • Option 2: To add all GF foods to Schedule 1 of the above regulations to end the prescribing of GF foods in primary care. Under this option, no GF foods would be available on prescription in primary care. • Option 3: To only allow the prescribing of certain GF foods (e.g. bread and flour) in primary care, by amending Schedule 1 of the above regulations. Under this option, only certain GF foods would be available on prescription in primary care. Feedback from this consultation is being analysed and updates will be added to the web page in due course. www.gov.uk/government/consultations/availability-of-gluten-free-foods-on-nhs-prescription
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www.NHDmag.com July 2017 - Issue 126
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