Launch of the new NLH Commissioning Specialist Library: 15 September 2008

The pilot Commissioning Specialist Library went live on 15 September 2008. The library is free, and aims to be a one-stop shop providing timely and efficient access to high quality information resources for all those involved in commissioning for health and wellbeing. It endeavours to include the best available evidence, examples of good practice, policy and data to support world class commissioning.

The Commissioning Specialist Library is one of over 30 Specialist Libraries from the National Library for Health (NLH) and is managed by the King's Fund Information and Library Service.

It will be officially launched at the King's Fund Annual Conference in November 2008.
Feedback or comments are welcomed, and contact details can be found on the Commissioning Specialist Library homepage.

Find out more at http://www.library.nhs.uk/commissioning/

Launch of the new NLH Infections Specialist Library: 15 September 2008

What is it?
The Infections Specialist Library (ISL) provides convenient and comprehensive access to the highest quality evidence on the investigation, prevention, treatment and control of infectious diseases from a clinical perspective. This is intended to keep health professionals up to date with the burgeoning amount of infectious disease evidence that is emerging daily.
What does the library provide?
Resources in the library include:
-Reviews and systematic reviews (eg Cochrane library, CKS, DARE)
-National guidelines (eg NICE, DH, SIGN)
-International guidelines (if no suitable UK guidelines exist, eg WHO, CDC)
-Examples of best practice (eg HPA)
-Standard operating protocols (eg HPA)
-Government health policies and standards (eg HPA, DH)
-News and events
Find out more at http://www.library.nhs.uk/infections

Annual Evidence Update on Hepatitis B/C: 8-12 September 2008

An update of the evidence on this topic from the NLH Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases Specialist Library.

The NLH Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Specialist Library project team has carried out a systematic search on Hepatitis B and C to identify all high level evidence published in the past year, namely guidelines, systematic reviews, health technology assessments and economic evaluations. Leading experts from around the UK have read and appraised these for their validity and relevance to the busy clinician. A list of the most useful papers, along with commentary from the experts, will be available on the site from 8th September.

Find out more at http://www.library.nhs.uk/gastroliver

Launch of Stroke Specialist Library

The Stroke Specialist Library was launched this week at the UK Stroke Forum in December to coincide with the publication of the Department of Health's National Stroke Strategy.

Stroke is the third commonest cause of death and biggest single cause of disability in the UK. The National Audit Office reported on the state of stroke care in the NHS two years ago and highlighted areas for improvement, including public and professional knowledge of this potentially devastating condition, and improved access to care by specialist stroke teams. Professor Roger Boyle was subsequently asked to add stroke to his existing responsibilities as National Director for Heart Disease.

The Stroke Specialist Library team has drawn on the expertise of a steering group comprising representatives from a wide range of stakeholders including the Department of Health, Stroke Association, British Association of Stroke Physicians, UK Stroke Nurses' Forum and NHS Institute, together with colleagues from the Neurological Conditions and Later Life Specialist Libraries, to produce a detailed collection development strategy to bring together key, high quality resources that will help NHS staff and patients work together to improve care, complementing the new Stroke Strategy.

Find out more at http://www.library.nhs.uk/stroke

New Specialist Library for Neurological Conditions

Dear all
We've made a new Specialist Library available from today, which focuses on Neurological Conditions. The library will be launched formally on 14th Nov, but has gone live today in order to gather feedback and comments before then.
If you get a chance to have a look and have any comments to make, please use the Contact Us form within the Specialist Library to send your thoughts to the team at the Royal Free Hospital who have put the library together.

Thanks for your help

Fran

Online resource to support patient and public involvement in healthcare

A comprehensive collection of current knowledge and evidence about patient and public involvement in healthcare is now available in the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Specialist Library run by the King’s Fund for the National Library for Health.

Managers, researchers and students will be able to access, free of charge, all the latest information on user involvement in areas such as policy development and self-care, and on strengthening NHS accountability to patients and to local communities.

The aim of the PPI Specialist Library is to support the implementation of patient, user, carer and public involvement in health care by providing access, in one location, to the best information available.

Visit the Patient and Public Involvement Specialist Library
Read the King's Fund press release

News from the Cancer Specialist Library

Dear all
Issue 2 of Resource - the Cancer SL's newsletter is now available from the For Librarians SL page.

Enjoy!
Fran

Cancer Specialist Library - newsletter

Dear all
The Cancer Specialist Library have just produced their first newsletter - you can download the pdf file from the For Librarians page.

Cheers
Fran

Launch of the Kidney Diseases Specialist Library

The Kidney Diseases Specialist Library has now been launched to coincide with World Kidney Day on 8 March 2007.
The focus of the Specialist Library is on kidney diseases and renal tract infections affecting adults and children in the UK.
There is also basic information on renal tract cancer.

The Kidney Diseases Specialist Library is primarily developed for health professionals working in the UK health service, providing a wide variety of links to renal information. The website also features a large amount of information that is of interest to kidney patients, and carers of people with kidney disease.

Visit the library at www.library.nhs.uk/kidney