NHS Evidence changes - new Library guide available

 NHS Evidence have now launched the new site which has integrated the content from the previous National Library for Health service. The new single site has a very different look and feel with improved functionality.

The databases and journals are now accessed via page on the new site. The actual interfaces for searching both of these remain unchanged.

The Specialist Collections have been replaced by topic pages which bring together different kinds of information on the same subject, such as this one on bipolar disorder. The search engine also features new functionality.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has also launched Nice Pathways. An online tool for health and social care professionals, NICE Pathways brings together all connected NICE guidance on a topic in a user-friendly electronic flowchart.

Previously there has been no easy way to see at a glance everything NICE has said on a specific condition, across all its separate published guidance. Nice Pathways will allow users to quickly view and navigate NICE guidance and other tools on any given topic across an entire care pathway.

We will be revising our user guides and training in the next week or so, but in the mean time we have produced a quick guide to the new site.

Advanced warning - Health Promotion Resources is moving

The Health Promotion Resources Service is moving from it's temporary base at Westgate House to a new location at Forest House in Kettering.

The Service will close on the 18th of May to begin the task of packing and will reopen on the 2nd of June. Unfortunately during the move we will be unable to offer an resources loans or fulfill any leaflet orders.

More details will follow shortly...

Medical Masterclass now available

Medical Masterclass is a training package developed by the Royal College of Physicians to help doctors prepare for their MRCP(UK) examination (all parts). It will also be of interest to many others with an interest in clinical medicine.

Medical Masterclass is comprised of:

• 12 module books covering the scientific background to medicine, clinical skills and the range of medical specialties
• accompanying CDs containing 60 interactive case studies
• the Medical Masterclass web site containing interactive self-assessment questions. This consists of approximately 3000 MRCP(UK) Part 1 and Part 2 Written Examination type questions, with a new mock timed exam challenge added every month. You can even see how your score compares to other users and how you perform in each of the different specialties

Module books and CDs are available at the Richmond Library. If you want to make use of the web site you can also get a user name and password from us which will allow you to work through the modules, saving your progress as you go.

NHS Evidence is changing on the 10th of May

NICE are releasing a new version of the NHS Evidence site on the 10th of May. There will be substantial changes to the site (including the Health Information Resources pages).

The changes include:

• A redesign of the user interface
• New search tools
• The replacement of the Specialist Collections by topic pages

NICE have added a set of slides illustrating some of the changes which you can see here.

Easter & bank holiday opening

The Libraries will be closed on the following days:

• Friday the 22nd April
• Monday 25th April
• Friday the 29th April
• Monday 2nd of May

Access is available to registered users on a 24/7 basis as usual at the Berrywood and Richmond Libraries by swiping in using your library card.

On-line renewals now working

The problem we had with renewing items on-line via the library catalogue has now been resolved.
 

 You can now log into the catalogue using your library card number and PIN (if you don't have one contact us), check your current loans, renew items, update your account details and reserve items for later collection.

WELD – Working with Evidence about Learning Disabilities

The WELD blog aims to bring you the latest learning disabilities evidence that is published each week. They scan a wide variety of websites, databases and journals and select evidence that is relevant to health and social care professionals with an interest in learning disabilities.

The daily posts include summarised published evidence, policy guidance, reports and links to primary sources. The site is fully searchable and also offers RSS feeds of both entries and comments made by users.

You can find it at: http://www.weldblog.net/

New books

We have just posted our latest books list onto our web site. See a list of the new titles we have added to stock in the last month.

Remember, you can also help ensure we hold the right stock to support you by reviewing our books on approval collection which will be available until the  29th of April at the Berrywood and Richmond Libraries.

Antique Medical Book Prints, a photo by ninainflorida on Flickr.

Places still available on April training courses

There are still some places available on the Library Service training courses in April. Training is free to NHS staff and run at a variety of locations around the county. The links below will give you more information.

• An Introduction to Critical Appraisal 8th of April

• Basic Introduction to Health on the Web 19th of April

• Evidence for Health 11th and 15th of April

• Literature Searching Using the Databases 14th of April

And if you can't make our courses, we can always come to you. The Library Service can deliver our standard courses, more tailored workshops or shorter, specialised sessions at any location around the county. All we need is an NHS network connection and a suitable venue. Contact us for more information.

April is bowel cancer awareness month

To mark Bowel Cancer Awareness Month  charities such as Beating Bowel Cancer and Bowel Cancer UK  are running publicity campaigns, encouraging people across the UK to be aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and to act on their concerns, sooner rather than later. The Department of Health have also been running radio adverts.

Locally, NHS Northamptonshire have launched their Talk Sooner site aimed at encouraging everyone (espeically the over 50s) to consult their GP about specific symptoms, including those of bowel cancer.

For a basic guide to bowel cancer see the NHS Choices site which includes information on symptoms, treatments, prevention and patient experiences of having the disease.NHS Choices have also recently reported on the success of a recent trial in screening for bowel cancer. The Department of Health also produce a leaflet on the facts about bowel cancer screening.

 For the latest information and evidence on all types of cancer see the Cancer Specialist Collection at NHS Evidence.

Important changes to the C-Card Scheme

From the 1st of April the C-Card Scheme will no longer be administered by Health Promotion Resources.  For information about the scheme, supplies and training please contact:

Blaine Hawkins or Richard Shatford
Contraceptive Services
Ashwood Centre
St.Mary's Hospital
Kettering  NN15 7PW
Tel: 01536 493296/493229
Fax: 01536 494637
Email: CCard@nht.northants.nhs.uk
Mon - Fri 8.30 am - 4 pm.

Health Promotion is still currently supporting the Emergency Hormonal Contraception Pharmacy Scheme.

Government launches new public sector ICT strategy

The UK Government has launched a new IT strategy for the public sector which sets out a list of major changes to be implemented over the next 2 years.

Amongst other things the strategy sets out a move away from large scale solutions delivered by large suppliers to a greater number of smaller projects, to share and reuse IT solutions via a common infrastructure, an asset register and Applications Store, to enable interoperable by using common standards, and developing a quality assurance ‘kite mark’.

You can find the document on the Cabinet Office web site.