Gray Health Care News Centre

The Alzheimer's Research Trust has commissioned the Health Economics Research Centre at the University of Oxford to produce a report on the economic cost of dementia to the UK, and the country's investment in research to find new treatments, preventions and cures.

This report evaluates progress in the adoption of the Department of Health's dementia strategy 'Living well with dementia' and states there has not yet been a robust approach to implementation.

This guideline provides an assessment of, and presents the evidence base for, the efficacy of non-pharmaceutical therapies, encompassing psychological therapies, structured exercise and lifestyle interventions, and a range of alternative and complementary treatments, many of which are not routinely available within the NHS.

The NHS standard contracts for Mental Health and Learning Disability and Ambulance Services are published today. The contracts support the NHS Operating Framework for 20010-2011: The contracts should be read in conjunction with the Principles and Rules for Co-operation and Competition and the PCT Procurement Guide.

This document provides the key learning from the national Partnerships for Older People Projects (POPP) programme.

The full Government response to the final report of the independent CAMHS Review, setting out progress to date and plans for the future of children and young people's mental health. The response also gives examples of the outcomes expected from a good service as an aid for commissioners, providers and practitioners.

The Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy Service was created under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. It started in 2007 and this is the annual report of its second year in operation.

This guidance was published initially in draft form as part of a consultation on advice and information for children, young people and alcohol, being facilitated in England by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The findings from this consultation have been collated and utilised in the development of this final version of the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance.

Best practice guidance for organisations using and implementing Patient Level Costing and Information Systems (PLICS) in a mental health setting.

New Horizons sets out an intention across a wide range of agencies to move towards a society where people understand that their mental well-being is as important as their physical health if they are to live their lives to the full. It describes some of the factors that affect well-being and some everyday strategies for preserving and boosting it. It also sets out the benefits, including economic benefits, of doing so.

Commissioning high quality modern mental health services presents real challenges - but help is at hand for commissioners with the publication of a new guide today. ‘The Commissioning Friend for Mental Health Services' is designed to support primary care trusts and local authorities and assist them in developing their mental health commissioning practice.

The main purpose of the report is to enable those working in clinical and social care services to improve the quality of life of people with learning disabilities who develop dementia, by providing guidance to inform assessment, diagnosis, treatment and support.

This document informs mental health trusts, PCTs and SHAs of the criteria against which mental health performance will be assessed. It should be read alongside 'Implementing the NHS Performance Framework'.

The guideline aims to provide a framework for evidence based assessment and management of ADHD/HKD which can be applied within a local multidisciplinary and multiagency approach.

A report published today by the Alzhimer's Society states that people with dementia are staying far longer in hospital than people without the condition who go in for the same treatment.

In recognition of widespread concern about the over-prescription of anti-psychotic drugs, and as part of the priority being given to improving care for people with dementia, Professor Sube Banerjee was asked to undertake an independent clinical review of the use of anti-psychotic drugs. Professor Banerjee has completed his review and the Government has issued its response to his findings.

We've added the new edition of the EBMH Journal to the collection. Follow the link to view the articles.

Steve Pilling, Joint Director of the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health has written a summary of the two depression guidelines published by NICE in October 2009.

This guidance offers best practice guidance on the treatment and management of depression in adults.

The draft evaluation of depression screening against the UK NSC criteria. This paper uses evidence published up to June 2009 to update the review by Gilbody et al (2006) of the performance of screening for depression against the UK National Screening Committee Criteria for appraising the viability, effectiveness and appropriateness of a screening programme (National Screening Committee 2003).