NEWS 2012
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FEBRUARY 2012
Act FAST on Stroke 2012 Campaign - launches 27th February 2012. Objectives of the overall campaign are:
*To raise awareness of the symptoms of stroke, with people being able to identify at least one of the leading stroke symptoms within the FAST acronym
*Encourage the public to call 999 immediately if they identify any single one of the leading stroke symptoms.
*Key dates for the advertising are:
TV advertising: February 27th - March 25th
BME (Black Minority Ethnic) radio engagement: March 5th - 18th
More information can be found by visiting the NHS Choices website or the Department of Health website _________________________________________________________________________
JANUARY 2012
British Heart Foundation latest news bulletin (CLICK HERE) to read
Stroke4Carers - is a free web-based resource site that provides online help and support for carers. These include downloadable clips of service users talking about their experiences and practical tips relating to coping on a daily basis and communication etc. Please visit the Stroke4Carers website for more information
NICE issues preliminary guidance (appraisal consultation) on rivaroxaban for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation read more....
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NEWS 2011
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DECEMBER 2011
Seasonal Flu Vaccine Leaflet - 
Free flu jabs are available to people who have a long term condition. This includes diabetes, chest problems or breathing difficulities, a heart condition, kidney or liver disease, a neurological condition, a low immune system and those who have had a stroke. People with long term conditions that do catch flu are at risk of serious complications developing. If you haven't already received a letter from your GP surgery please contact them direct to make an appointment. Doing it sooner rather than later is best as it takes up to 10 days to take effect. To find out more about the flu vaccine, please contact your GP practice or visit www.nhs.uk
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NOVEMBER 2011
British Heart Foundation latest news bulletin (CLICK HERE) to read
Patient and public engagement in the new commissioning system - NHS Confederation discussion paper. The paper is available on the NHS Confederation website
NICE QOF indicators taken up - GPs will be able to provide better care for smokers and patients with atrial fibrillation, peripheral arterial disease and osteoporosis, following changes to the quality and outcomes framework (QOF) for 2012/13. Find out more here..
Heart Failure: Top Tips for GPs - NHS Improvement - Heart has produced a set of four postcards with top tips for GPs on heart failure. The postcards cover diagnosis, up-titration of drugs in heart failure, managing heart failure patients and a crash course in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The postcards were launched at the British Society for Heart Failure conference, and are now available to download from the NHS Improvement website
NACR report 2011 - The 2011 National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation (NACR) Annual Statistical Report is now available to download on the NACR website. This fifth annual report shows that the number of people taking part in cardiac rehab is continuing to increase.
National News - Heart attack and cancer survival rates leap as Britons live longer. The number of people dying from heart attacks and strokes has dropped by two-fifths over the last decade, new figures show. Read More......
British Heart Foundation latest news bulletin (CLICK HERE) to read
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SEPTEMBER 2011
Call for measures to reduce salt intake - The World Health Organisation has set a global goal to reduce dietary salt intake to less than 5 g (about one teaspoon) per person by 2025.
Read More......
Smoking increases heart risk more in women than men - Women who start smoking increase their risk of a heart attack by more than men who take up the habit, according to a review of more than 30 years research. Read More......
Blood Pressure Guidelines revised in England and Wales - Patients thought to have high blood pressure should have the diagnosis confirmed at home, according to new guidelines. Read More.......
Know Your Pulse film - as part of the Know Your Pulse campaign, the Atrial Fibrillation Association has produced a Know Your Pulse film to support medical professionals with highlighting the importance of simple pulse checks as a means of detecting potential arrhythmias, such as AF. It can be viewd via the website at www.knowyourpulse.org.uk. Free copies can also be ordered from joanna@afa.org.uk joanna@afa.org.uk
Innovation Awards - SPAF Academy, developed and funded by Boehringer Ingelheim, has launched the Innovation Awards to support innovation in SPAF (stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation). Giving an opportunity to receive a bursary to help develop loal plans, with the support of the SPAF Academy if required. Awards start at £1,000 up to a maximum of £25,000. To find out more please visit the SPAF Academy website. The closing date is Monday 31st Ocotber 2011.
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AUGUST 2011
NICE - Please (CLICK HERE) to view the latest press releases from NICE
British Heart Foundation latest news bulletin (CLICK HERE) to read
British man receives completely artificial heart
A 40 year old man has become the first person in the UK to receive a totally artificial heart.
Celebrating Cardiac Rehabilitation Award 2011 - BACR announce the final three
The British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (BACPR) and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have joined together to celebrate cardiac rehabilitation with prizes for service development to go to three teams in the UK. Following over 3500 public votes, the three finalists are:
Eastern and Costal Kent Community Health NHS Trust
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Sandwell and Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
The winner will be announced at the BACPR conference in October 11.
Finding the Words. Work book and DVD launched by the National End of Life Care progarmme. Finding the Words is a short film and work book aimed at health and social care professionals whose work brings them into contact with people and families at the end of life. The short film features members of the user group that advised the National End of Life Care Programme's (NEoLCP) communication skills pilot project discussing their personal experiences of end of life converstaions with staff. Please visit the NEoLCP website to download the work book. The DVD can be ordered by emailing the NEoLCP office.
NICE clinical guideline on the management of stable angina. Published 01 August 2011. NICE has published a new clinical guideline on the management of stable angina. The guideline sets out recommendations on what treatment and care the NHS should offer to people with a diganosis of stable angina, including use of anti-anginal drug treatment and surgery. Further information can be found by visiting the NICE website
Professor Sir Roger Boyle Retires; Thank you from NHS Improvement. After a total of 39 years working in the NHS, 6 years as the National Director for Heart Diseaes and Stroke and 11 years as the country's Heart Tsar, Sir Roger retired on the 22 July 2011. His astonishing contributions were celebrated at a special event in London on the 4th July. Videos and presentations from the event are available to view on the NHS Improvement website.
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JULY 2011
National News - Heart medicine advances help patients enjoy active life. Knowledge of how the heart functions and now best to treat heart disease has improved dramatically over the past 50 years, says a new book written by the British Heart Foundation.
Local Health Profiles 2011 - The Public Health Observatories of England have worked together to produce the 2011 local health profiles. The profiles present a user-friendly picture of health in each area (including information no premature mortality from heart disease and stroke) and provide valuable tools for local government and health services. Please visit the Department of Health website for further information.
Chronic heart failure quality standard - published 30 June 2011 - The NICE quality standard covers the assessment, diagnosis and management of chronic heart failure in adults. Please visit the NICE website for further information.
More support for Stroke Networks - Andrew Lansley compliments stroke networks and their achievements. The Secretary of State echoed the comments made at the NHS Confederation conference where he said stroke networks "...are going to be an integral part of how we design services in the future"
Nice Shared Learning Awards - The NICE Shared Learning Awards recognise the efforts of a broad range of organisations that have put NICE guidance into practice. Entries for 2012 awards now open. For futher information please visit the NICE website
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MAY 2011
Ask First campaign
- The Stroke Association is runnings its Ask First campaign this year which aims to achieve better awareness of AF amongst the public and better knowledge of diagnosis and management measures which can be used by primary healthcare professionals. To find out more please visit The Stroke Assocation website
Heart Rhythm Week 06 - 12 June 2011 - Arrhythmia Alliance and Atrial Fibrillation Association are supporting medical professionals to hold Pulse Check Events across the UK to teach members of the public this simple health check. To order a Pulse Check Pack which includes everything you'll need to run an event please contact Joanna Fearnley joanna@heartrhythmcharity.org.uk
NICE Pathways - The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has launched NICE Pathways, a new online tool for health and social care professionals that brings together all connected NICE guidance on a topic in a user-friendly electronic flowchart.
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APRIL 2011
The Stroke Association has teamed up with Careline UK for an emergency alarm monitoring partnership. The Stroke Association has joined a partnership that will see leading telecare response service Careline UK provide personal emergency alarms and monitoring services to stroke survivors.
NICE Quality Standard on depression in adults - published March 2011
Transparency in outcomes: a framework for quality in adult social care. The DoH has published the first national Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework, which will apply to the year 2011/12.
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New Stroke awareness campaign in Wales. A new campaign Ask First - to prevent a stroke later has been launched by Dr Tony Jewell, Chief Medical officer for Wales, to raise awareness that high blood pressure and artrial fibrillation are serious risk factors and can lead to a stroke. To find out more about the campaign, please visit the Welsh Assembly Government website
NHS Outcomes Framework: Innovation in Outcomes competition. The DOH is running a competition inviting people to suggest new, innovative indicators for the NHS Outcomes Framework, both where gaps exist in the current framework and in broader areas for future frameworks.
Download the NHS Outcomes Framework: Innovation in Outcomes competition
Enter the outcomes competition online
NICE - Please (CLICK HERE) to view the latest press releases from NICE
British Heart Foundation latest news bulletin (CLICK HERE) to read
Heart Surgeons push for other specialists to publish performance data - Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "The publication of useful information goes to the heart of our modernisation plans. Cardio-thoracic surgeons have led the way in demonstrating that a transparent NHS is a better and safter NHS. By opening up data and highlighting variation in standards, outcomes for patients needing cardio-thoracic surgery have improved substantially." "We would like to see many more areas using data to improve outcomes. That's why over the next year, we'll make another £1.2 million available for more clinical audits, to provide more data to help us drive up clinical standards."
Department of Health - More help to fight heart disease and stroke. A new tool to help the NHS better treat cardiovascular disease in every area of the country was launched by the Department of Health today.
March 8th 2011 is the 100th Anniversary for International Womens Day organised by the World Heart Federation. For further information please visit the World Heart Federation website
Presentations from the 5th UK Stroke Forum Conference 2010 are now available on the UK Stroke Forum website
Anticoagulation uptake remains poor in high risk patients - NHS Improvement National Clinical Leads Dr Campbell Cowan, Dr Matthew Fay and Dr Damian Jenkinson, with Dr Kathryn Griffith, President of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society, have had a letter regarding anticoagulation for high risk stroke patients published in the BMJ. To find out more please visit the BMJ website
Videoconference consultants boost emergency stroke care - allowing consultants to order drugs remotely is saving lives and money, states Dr Damian Jenkinson, National Clinical Lead for NHS Improvement - Stroke at the Mobile and Wireless Healthcare conference.
ACT Fast Campaign is back! - Re-launched on 01 March 2011 - The successful Department of Health ACT Fast Campaign is being re-launched on Tuesday 1st March 2011. Further information can be found on the NHS Choices website
Stroke Vital Signs data - DOH - The latest vital sign data for quarter 3, 2010-11 is now available on the Department of Health website
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FEBRUARY 2011
Sleep and heart risk link is uncertain - please visit the NHS Choices website to read more
Department of Health - The Government is investing £1.39million to support 79 local projects around the country to help identify and support carers. (CLICK HERE) to read more.
The Stroke Association - Know Your Blood Pressure campaign offers free blood pressure tests at events around the country. High blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for stroke and shows no symptoms. Log on and view the map to see an event near you or email kybp@stroke.org to get involved.
The Stroke Association - Life After Stroke Awards - Do you know a remarkable stroke survivor? Have you worked with a fantastic volunteer or Stroke Club? Or do you know a carer or speech and language therapist who deserves special recognition? The nomination period closes on Friday 25 February. To nominate please (CLICK HERE) or contact Helen Chapman on 01604 687720.
Update from the National Institute for Health Research Stroke Research Network - A successful review of the NIHR SRN has secured funding for its Coordinating Centre for a further five years. Network support has led to increased collaborative working among stroke researchers and strong working relationships are being built with the clinical Stroke Networks. Eight Hyper Acute Stroke Research Centres have been set up to support this area of stroke research. For more information please visit the NIHR SRN website
British Heart Foundation latest news bulletin (CLICK HERE) to read
NICE issues guidance on off-pump CABG
NICE issues guidance on percutaneous laser coronary angioplasty
SHCA Report on Specialised Cardiology Services and QIPP - Please click on the PDF link to download the report or visit the SHCA website
NHS Choices - Scientists have grown human viens in a laboratory, in a breakthrough that could revolutionise heart bypass surgery, reported the Daily Mail.....Read More....
Have your say on NICE draft Quality Standards for Heart Failure - The draft NICE quality standard for chronic heart failure is now available for consultation. Please (CLICK HERE) to access the consultation which ends at 5pm on the 16th Feb 2011.
Atrial Fibrillation campaign - please visit The Stroke Associations's website to find out more about this campaign
Map of Medicine - End of Life care in adults pathway now published. To view please visit the Map of Medicine website
From the BBC:
Brain cooling could aid stroke recovery - Cooling the brain of patients who have suffered a stroke could dramatically improve their recovery, a group of Scottish doctors have said.
Stroke patients called to help with University study - Stroke patients are being asked to take part in a study to help give them more independance.
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JANUARY 2011
Payment by Results (PbR) - Road Testing for 2011-12. The PbR publication 2011-12; road test tariff and guidnace, was published on the 22nd December and is now on the Department of Health (DOH) website. The road test will run until the 21st January 2011.
UKFST Endorsement Initiative - UKFST awards first endorsements, successfully launched at the UKFST Conference in December with a number of endorsements being granted. These can be found on the UKFST searchable online database If you are interested in applying for endorsement, becoming a reviewer or finding our more, please visit the UKFST website
From the BBC:
Stroke rehabilitation: your stories of aftercare. BBC News website readers share their experiences around their aftercare following the CQC review.
Follow-up stroke care to be 'improved'. The rehabilitation care of stroke patients in England will receive additional resources according to Health Secretary Andrew lansley.
NEWS 2010
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British Heart Foundation latest news bulletin (CLICK HERE) to read
NICE gives green light to balloon catheter in first medical technology guidance - NICE has approved the use of a balloon catheter for use in coronary artery surgery, in the first ever piece of guidance from its new medical technology programme. Read more >>
A new Patient and Public Engagement (PPE) website - now live - The new Patient and Public Engagement section on the NHS Improvement website is now live. The site has been designed to help individuals and NHS organisations working with patients and carers, offering easy to access engagement resources, best practice examples and links to useful information. You can access the new PPE website by clicking on http://www.improvement.nhs.uk/ppe/
Annual Report for the National Audit - The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care (NHS IC) has published the 2010 Annual Report of the National Audit. To view or download a copy of the report please click on the PDF file
Congratulations to NHS London - NHS London won the HSJ award for clinical service redesign for the reconfiguration of acute stroke services on Monday 29th November.
Atrial Fibrillation Patient Charter, By Patients, for Patients - 840,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation (AF), and many more cases go undetected. The AF Association AFA), have produced the AF Patient Charter which sets out 10 recommendations to be implemented in the course of the Governments NHS reform programme 'no decision about me without me' a committment to shared patient decision making. To view/download a copy of the charter please click on the PDF
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