2008 Annual Evidence Update on Glaucoma

The 2008 Annual Evidence Update on Glaucoma is now available from the Eyes and Vision Specialist Library. It presents all the key evidence that has been published since the Knowledge Week in October 2007. Sections include epidemiology, screening, patient education and living with Glaucoma.
Read the information here: http://www.library.nhs.uk/eyes/Page.aspx?pagename=AEUGLA2008

To tie in with the Annual Evidence Update on Glaucoma, the Later Life Specialist Library is hosting a special feature on driving and Glaucoma. This provides a brief synopsis of recent evidence regarding the impact on and implications for driving, fitness to drive and visual standards for driving. It also indicates sources for patient information. This special feature is available here: http://www.library.nhs.uk/laterlife/viewResource.aspx?resid=299770&code=8e2d7c040570409fb4935087a260a4d2

The Global Library of Women’s Medicine

The Global Library of Women’s Medicine has recently been launched online and is freely available. It is a web-based library containing a vast range of clinical information across the whole spectrum of women’s medicine. All the resources have been peer-reviewed by experts. The Library aims to support all health professionals in their care of female patients, but there is also patient information available. Access it here: http://www.glowm.com/

2008 Annual Evidence Update on Psoriasis

The Skin Disorders Specialist Library has produced its second Annual Evidence Update on Psoriasis. This brings together all the latest information on the treatment and management of psoriasis and the impact it has on patients. This includes national guidelines and systematic reviews published since the last update in November 2007. There is also a ‘What’s New’ section, which analyses the evidence and its implications for practice.
Click here to access the update: http://www.library.nhs.uk/skin/Page.aspx?pagename=PSORHOME

If this is of interest to you, you may also like to know that the Musculoskeletal Specialist Library has recently produced an Annual Evidence Update on Psoriatic Arthritis. View it here: http://www.library.nhs.uk/musculoskeletal/ViewResource.aspx?resID=296801&tabID=289&catID=1021

The Vascular Specialist Library is launched!

The new Vascular Specialist Library has officially been launched.
The library aims to keep its users informed of the latest evidence that has been published on the prevention and treatment of diseases of the arteries, veins and lymphatics. This will include a wide range of sources such as guidelines, systematic reviews and statistical data.

To view the launch editorial of the new library, click on the following link: http://www.library.nhs.uk/vascular/Page.aspx?&pagename=ED01

To see the latest eBulletin of the Cardiovascular Diseases, Stroke and Vascular Specialist Libraries, click here: http://www.wish-uk.org/bulletin_10_08.htm

ENT and Audiology Update

The ENT and Audiology Specialist Library has produced a new update of all the latest evidence in ENT, audiology and thyroid disorders.
The November / December 2008 issue contains the most recent guidelines and systematic reviews.
Read it here: http://www.library.nhs.uk/ENT/ViewResource.aspx?resID=297071&tabID=290&catID=11484.

NOVEMBER 2008

Salford at its best!

Annual Evidence Update on Diabetic Retinopathy 2008

The Diabetes Specialist Library has gathered and evaluated information on topics suggested by diabetic retinopathy experts and compiled them into an update for National Knowledge Week for Diabetic Retinopathy. The comprehensive collection includes systematic reviews, guidelines and primary research.
Click on the link to access the knowledge updates: http://www.library.nhs.uk/diabetes/Page.aspx?pagename=DR

NHS System Reform Annual Update October 2008

The Health Management Specialist Library has brought together the latest evidence, published since June 2007, about several key aspects of NHS reform. These include patient choice, payment by results, commissioning, foundation trusts, alternative providers (such as independent and third sector) and regulation. Click here to view the update: http://www.library.nhs.uk/healthManagement/page.aspx?pagename=AEUSR

National Knowledge Week for Ethnicity and Health 2008

The Ethnicity and Health Specialist Library has published a series of articles for its National Knowledge Week for Ethnicity and Health 2008. The articles have been written by experts and include topics such as commissioning, oral health, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and learning difficulties.
Click on the link to view the complete list of articles: http://www.library.nhs.uk/ethnicity/Page.aspx?prv=y&pagename=NKW2008

Vital Signs

Operational Plans 2008/09 - 2010/11

The Operating Framework, published the end of last year, introduced a new approach to planning and managing our priorities both nationally and locally – the Vital Signs. This guidance explains how organisations can use the Vital Signs to develop local operational plans to deliver against national priorities and how to select - or even create - local priorities. The document sets out how performance will be managed against each of the three tiers of the Vital Signs, limiting central performance management to the tier one national priorities and beyond that only to those areas or organisations where performance is weak. Click here for the link

Annual Evidence Update 2008 - Osteoarthritis

The Musculoskeletal Specialist Library has worked with the Trauma & Orthopaedics Specialist Library to do a detailed literature search of all the evidence published on Osteoarthritis in the preceding year. The result is the Annual Evidence Update 2008. Guidance from NICE, RCP and Clinical Knowledge Summaries are included in the Update, as are systematic reviews of pharmacological therapies, physical therapies, complementary and alternative therapies, and surgery. Click here to see the Update: http://www.library.nhs.uk/musculoskeletal/

2008 Annual Evidence Update on Breast Cancer

The Cancer Specialist Library has launched its 2008 Annual Evidence Update on Breast Cancer. The resources are mostly systematic reviews and some guidance, all published between 2007 and 2008. The amount of literature reviewed is so large that the Update has been divided into three parts. Click on the link to review the resources available: http://www.library.nhs.uk/Cancer/Page.aspx?pagename=KW08BCCO

Heart Failure National Evidence Update

The Cardiovascular Diseases Specialist Library has produced the 2008 Annual Evidence Update on Heart Failure. A panel of experts has reviewed all the high quality literature produced since last year. The result is an update of systematic reviews and other key evidence on heart failure, which you can view here:
http://www.library.nhs.uk/cardiovascular/Page.aspx?prv=y&pagename=HFAEU08INT

Hepatitis B & C Annual Evidence Update 2008

The Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Specialist Library has produced a Hepatitis B & C Annual Evidence Update, drawing from evidence published in 2007 and 2008. The literature has been reviewed by subject specialists and divided into categories such as diagnosis, treatment and risk factors. View the Update here: http://www.library.nhs.uk/Gastroliver/ViewResource.aspx?resID=292642&tabID=289&catID=13873

Annual Evidence Update on Headache

The Neurological Conditions Specialist Library has published the Headache Annual Evidence Update. Literature published from 2006 to 2008 was gathered and peer-reviewed for this update, which contains guidelines, systematic reviews and other high quality evidence. To view the evidence on treatment, prevention and other aspects of headache, click here: http://www.library.nhs.uk/neurological/ViewResource.aspx?resID=292337

Depression Annual Evidence Update 2008

The Mental Health Specialist Library has searched four major databases for high-quality evidence of depression and has produced an Annual Evidence Update. The evidence, published between January 2007 and August 2008, has been organised into four categories: Incidence and prevalence, diagnosis, treatment and populations. To peruse the Update, click on the following link: http://www.library.nhs.uk/mentalHealth/Page.aspx?pagename=DEPRESSION

healthtalkonline.org

DIPEx, the Database of Individual Patient Experiences, has changed its name to Healthtalkonline.

People around the UK from a variety of different backgrounds share their experiences of illnesses and general health topics such as bereavement. There are interview clips and an online forum. It is a useful site, not only for patients, but also for healthcare professionals who can view the effects of an illness from a patient's perspective.

See more at http://www.healthtalkonline.org/

The Information Centre has a new look!

The NHS Information Centre website has been revamped with a new look and extra functions.

There is high-quality information for frontline staff in areas such as commissioning, public health, finance and performance. It is also a useful source of statistics and data collections. One new feature is an interactive map that demonstrates every stage of the commissioning process.

Click on http://www.ic.nhs.uk/ and try it out!

Opinion: Why current publication practices may distort science

An interesting opinion piece from the essay section of PLoS Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal published by the PLoS (the Public Library of Science). The PLoS is a not-for-profit organisation which is dedicated to producing scientific and medical literature that is freely available to everyone.

Read the article here: http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.0050201

Health and Care Services for Older People: Overview report on research to support the National Service Framework for Older People

This report summarises the key findings from a group of 16 studies commissioned by the Policy Research Programme under the ‘Older People’s use of services’ Research Initiative. The aim of the initiative was to inform and assess the implementation of the National Service Framework for Older People (2001).

OCTOBER 2008

Roots in the Lake District (see our Library Newsletter for the broader picture)

Remember:
If you find this newsletter useful, let us know

Annual Evidence Update: Surgical Management of Faecal Incontinence

This Annual Evidence Update (AEU) has been produced by the Specialist Library for Surgery, Theatres and Anaesthesia. It brings together the latest evidence from high quality studies on surgical procedures for the management of faecal incontinence. All the resources available have been published between October 2006 and July 2008. It is a useful source of evidence for commissioners and clinical staff in this field.

The AEU for the Surgical Management of Faecal Incontinence is available here: http://www.library.nhs.uk/theatres/viewResource.aspx?resid=293275&code=df87624d785fe0e665629be87d4aa39e

Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Annual Evidence Update

The Later Life Specialist Library has launched the Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Annual Evidence Update (AEU), which provides access to evidence regarding the main forms of dementia. There are clinical commentaries on systematic reviews, guidelines and other resources on various related topics. The Dementia AEU is available here: http://www.library.nhs.uk/LaterLife/Page.aspx?pagename=DEMENTAEU

The Commissioning Specialist Library

The Commissioning Specialist Library (CSL) is aimed at all those who are involved in commissioning for health. The key topics and toolkits provide evidence and good practice.
At the moment this is a pilot service, and more content will be added. The CSL is due to be launched formally in November 2008.
Access it here at http://www.library.nhs.uk/commissioning/

The Infections Specialist Library

The Infections Specialist Library (ISL) has recently been launched to give healthcare professionals access to evidence-based resources for all aspects of infection control. There are reviews, guidelines, protocols and examples of best practice, as well as news items and events. Go to http://www.library.nhs.uk/infections to find out more.

September 2008

Something to bring a smile to your face after a dreary summer. James photographed this giant rabbit at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Journal Watch

Journal Watch is a light-hearted review of the leading medical journals as seen from a GP's perspective. It is written by Dr Richard Lehman and is updated weekly. This week's instalment looks at topics such as the effects of vitamins on cardiovascular disease; arsenic and its link with type 2 diabetes; clinical leadership at NICE and drug pricing levels; a study of vitamin D levels in women with hip fractures and an argument for screening for haemochromatosis.
Read it at: http://www.primarycare.ox.ac.uk/journalwatch

INFOcus Learning Portal for the North West NHS

This learning portal is for NHS staff in the North West of England. It provides access to a range of e-learning opportunities covering project management, programme management and IT service management. A range of free e-learning courses are available via the portal. Following the completion of the e-learning courses, there would be opportunities to sit the associated industry-recognised exams.

The portal is available here: www.ilxportal.com/infocus/

National electronic Library for Medicines is relaunched!

The National electronic Library for Medicines (NeLM) is the largest medicines information portal for healthcare professionals in the NHS. The site has news, evidence-based reviews on drugs and drug therapy and health promotion material. It also provides a facility for sharing practice.
The NeLM has been relaunched with new software. This version is the first in a series of transformations as the site is redeveloped to provide a comprehensive medicines knowledge-base.
NHS staff with NHS e-mail addresses can register to receive the NeLM Newsletter, a daily e-mail update.
Find it at http://www.nelm.nhs.uk/en/

The NHS Workforce Review Team

A new website launched on the 18th August by the NHS Workforce Review Team (WRT). This is a group of dedicated healthcare workforce planners who provide objective modelling, analysis and evidence-based recommendations in order to enable patient-centred and clinically driven strategic decision making across the healthcare workforce. On the site you can find their workforce summaries and models for each specialty and profession, details of their publications and project work, more information about WRT and links to other organisations, as well as the latest news that will be of interest to workforce planners.

Find it at http://www.wrt.nhs.uk/