Changes to NHS Evidence database searching

The Healthcare Databases Advanced Search (HDAS), the interface on NHS Evidence which is used to search Medline, the British Nursing Index, PsychInfo etc is being relaunched with some big changes to its design and feel.

As part of the final change over from the old interface, HDAS will be unavailable from 17:00 today (29 May) until 09.00 on 30 May when the new site goes live. This period of downtime is necessary to upload the new databases onto the system.

The databases screen will look like this

and the search screen like this

You will need an Athens password to access the databases (and lots of other resources like elcetronic journals). If you don't have one you can get one online here.

We will updating our users guides to HDAS shortly, but in the mean time if you have any problems using the new interface, please contact us. 

New website to help clinicians integrate physical and mental healthcare

Four royal colleges have launched a new website giving health professionals easy access to clinical resources to support the provision of integrated physical and mental health care.

A strong body of evidence shows that mental illness is associated with poor physical health. People with mental illness die on average 5-10 years younger than the general population, and people with medical unexplained symptoms account for around 20% of new presentations in primary care. Yet it can be hard for clinicians to find the right information to help them address these issues. The Improving Physical & Mental Health site signposts users to high quality information.

The site has four main sections:

• Medically unexplained symptoms
• Long term conditions
• Children and young adults
• Physical health in adults

Department of Health publishes ten year information strategy

Power of Information

The DoH has published its information strategy – The power of information – which sets a ten-year framework for transforming information for the NHS, public health and social care.

The focus of the strategy is on improving access to information, including a commitment that people will be able to access their GP records online by 2015.

Other ambitions are for test results to be available electronically and that people will be able to book or re-arrange their medical appointments online.

This one-page visual guide helps demonstrate the key benefits to people of having better access to their health and care records and to services online.

Within the strategy the Department has identified dozens of case studies from across the country where GPs, hospital trusts or suppliers are ahead of the game in delivering services in this new way. Examples include:

• a GP surgery that encourages patients to access their records online
• a new information service for parents from NHS Choices
• care homes in Bristol using barcodes to avoid medication errors

The strategy also commits to creating a new website, or portal, that will act as a single trusted source of information across the NHS, public health and social care.

To find out more go to the information strategy website where you’ll find a summary of what the strategy will mean for you, and related information.

You can find the full version of The Power of Information document here.

Change of telephone number at Isebrook Library

Nene House

The Library at Isebrook Hospital now has a new phone number. You can call us on 01933 235862 from an outside phone.

If you are calling us from Highfield, Francis Crick, Bevan House, Danetre and Isebrook Hospital just dial extension 3562.

Medicines and prescribing support from NICE

Medicines & Prescribing Centre

The National Prescribing Centre has now been integrated into the National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence. NICE are now offering  a comprehensive suite of advice and support for delivering quality, safety, and efficiency in the use of medicines.

The Medicines and Prescribing Centre at NICE is currently is development and will provide:

• Evidence summaries on new medicines
• Evidence summaries on unlicensed and off label medicines
• Best practice advice for medicines management
• Bulletins and alerts available by email

Trial of mental health, learning disabilities and social care electronic journals

E-Journals

We are running a three-month trial of the Emerald Health and Social Care e-journals collection. This collection includes 22 journals covering the fields of mental health, learning disabilities, forensic psychology and vulnerable groups, with titles including:

-         Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities

-         Ethnicity and Inequality in Health and Social Care

-         Journal of Adult Protection

-         Journal of Criminal Psychology

-         Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice

-         Mental Health and Social Inclusion

-         Quality in Ageing and Older Adults

-         Tizard Learning Disability Review

A complete list of titles included is available via the Emerald website.

The journals are available for you to access now via our Emerald page.  You will need an Athens username and password – click on “Login” on the top left of the screen, and then click on “Athens login”. Once you are logged in you will see a complete list of our subscriptions including the Health and Social Care Collection at the end of the list.

As well as being accessible via Emerald, you will also find these journals when you search My Journals or the healthcare databases via NHS Evidence (again, you will need an Athens account for this).

If you don’t already have an Athens account you can register for one via the Athens self-registration page. If you’d like any help with registering for Athens or accessing the journals online, please get in touch with us. There are also user guides available for the Emerald site, and for accessing e-journals.

We’d like to know what you think of this new collection and whether it is something that you would like us to subscribe to. Please contact us with your feedback!

Problems with 11th Edition of the Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines in Psychiatry

Due to a national issue with the provider, the 11th edition of the Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines is currently unavailable via Athens.

SHA colleagues are working hard to resolve the issue as soon as possible and we hope the Guidelines will be available again shortly.

The helpful elves keeping you up to date with reliable research & guidance

The Mental Elf is a web site produced by Minervation and aims to keep you up to date with the latest research and guidance in mental health.

The site contains short, snappy summaries of relevant evidence based publications and is updated several times a week. A free weekly newsletter is also available.

The Mental Elf also has some friends:

• The Dental Elf
• The Diabetes Elf
• The Learning Disabilities Elf (The WELD blog)

All highly recommended.