Review Of Public Administration: Consultation On Draft Legislation To Establish Five New Integrated Health And Social Services Trusts

Reform of HPSS

Guidelines for the safe administration of cytotoxic medical preparations in the treatment of patients with cancer

The Minister for Health’s Strategy for effective health care in the 1990s has emphasised quality of service as one of its key principles.  Within the medical sphere, almost no other field has developed and continues to expand as rapidly as that of cancer biology and treatment.  Cytotoxic therapies are a major part of these developments. The Cancer Strategy has highlighted the importance of these drugs in the treatment of cancers. Download the Report here

Statutory Registration for Health and Social Professionals

The Department of Health and Children has committed itself to introducing legislation to provide for the statutory registration of certain health and social care professionals. Against this background, the Department held a series of workshops with the professional bodies to try to reach a consensus on how a system of statutory registration might operate in practice. The workshops were facilitated by the Institute of Public Administration. This document is the culmination of these workshops and it is now being circulated widely to the members of each profession involved for their consideration. Download the Report here

Review of the Operation of the Mental Health Act 2001

The Mental Health Act 2001 replaces the Mental Treatment Acts 1945-61 which provided the statutory framework for the detention of people with mental illness and the administration of psychiatric services for over 50 years.The 2001 Act was introduced on a phased basis to allow for the necessary preparatory work to be undertaken. In March 2002 sections 1 to 5, 7, and 31 to 55 were commenced with effect from the 5 April 2002 (Establishment Day). This allowed for the establishment of the Mental Health Commission and the Inspector of Mental Health Services to replace the Inspector of Mental Hospitals. The Mental Health Act 2001 replaces the Mental Treatment Acts 1945-61 which provided the statutory framework for the detention of people with mental illness and the administration of psychiatric services for over 50 years. The 2001 Act was introduced on a phased basis to allow for the necessary preparatory work to be undertaken. In March 2002 sections 1 to 5, 7, and 31 to 55 were commenced with effect from the 5 April 2002 (Establishment Day). This allowed for the establishment of the Mental Health Commission and the Inspector of Mental Health Services to replace the Inspector of Mental Hospitals. Click here to download PDF 202kb

Tackling inequalities in life expectancy in areas with the worst health and deprivation: England

While overall health outcomes in England has improved during the last Labour administration - inequalities in health has increased, according to the latest report published by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee today. People living in the poorest communities in England are more likely to die two years earlier than people living in more affluent neighbourhoods, leading to 3,335 premature mortality the report claims. Between, 1997 and 2010, the NHS budget has doubled and the country is more prosperous than ever before, yet the gap in life expectancy between the poorest areas and the national average grew by 7% for men and 14% for women, the committee concluded.