Scope of the Quality Standard

This quality standard covers the care of children (aged 10-15 years), young people (aged 16-17 years) and adults (aged 18 years and over) drinking in a harmful way and those with alcohol dependence in all NHS-funded settings. It also includes opportunistic screening and brief interventions for hazardous and harmful drinkers.

Alcohol dependence and harmful alcohol use quality statements

The quality standard refers to harmful drinking and alcohol dependence collectively as 'alcohol misuse'. It requires that services should be commissioned from and coordinated across all relevant agencies encompassing the whole care pathway. An integrated, multidisciplinary approach to provision of services is fundamental to the delivery of high-quality care to people who misuse alcohol. A specialist alcohol service is one in which the primary role is the assessment and management of alcohol misuse, including both psychological and physical effects. Some specialist addiction services will have this role for both drug and alcohol misuse.

• Access Quality Standard document on NICE website

The Department of Health has confirmed that it will run a national campaign to promote awareness of bowel cancer symptoms for eight weeks in the early part of next year. This will include TV adverts and information sent to GPs. Two pilots earlier this year showed an increase of 50% in patients presenting to their GP during this period and an increase of between 34-50% for colonoscopy referrals. Mindful of this additional pressure Sir Bruce Keogh has written to all NHS chief executives to ask that they prepare for additional demand, not just for the campaign, but also beyond. The letter predicts a 5-10% annual increase in activity over the next several years.

The full letter can be seen here. Please note Appendix A of the letter which highlights the capacity implications from the pilot sites. The BSG is talking to the DH about how to create a sustainable increase in capacity and provide appropriate planning tools to cope with increased demand effectively. There will be implementation meetings taking place locally this autumn, dates to be confirmed, where the BSG will be represented.

Protocol for changeover from old to new dataset and data collection system

Current process for data collection

The National Oesophago-gastric Cancer Audit recommenced data collection on 1 April 2011. Data collected for patients diagnosed with oesophago-gastric (OG) cancer from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 has been collected using the first OG Audit dataset and submitted via the first OG Audit data collection system. The data submission deadline for this period of data collection is 1 October 2012.

Introduction of new datasets from 1 April 2012

From 1 April 2012, the Audit has been extended to include patients diagnosed with high-grade dysplasia of the Barrett's oesophagus (HGD). This required a revision to the old dataset to include new data items for these patients.

Further information may be found in the document below:

• NOGCA Changeover Protocol  [ 55 kb ]

The Royal College of Surgeons of England Representatives on Advisory Appointment Committees for Consultant Upper/Lower GI Surgeon Posts

The College is dealing with an ever increasing number of Advisory Appointments Committees for consultant posts in Upper and Lower GI surgery. BSG members are encouraged to apply.

The College Assessor role is vital in ensuring the best candidate for the job is appointed and that the process is fair and open within current legislation and employment practice.

Application packs are available from Miss Bravinthy Nanthanan, at The Royal College of Surgeons of England. Please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone 0207 869 6262.

The eligibility criteria for College Assessors are as follows:

• An assessor must be an established consultant or honorary consultant in the NHS
• They must have been in active practice for a minimum of five years
• The assessor must be a fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons of England