These awards are designed to allow individuals, units and healthcare networks to be recognised for excellence in GI Care. Awards will be made in the form of a financial grant for use towards furthering or enhancing the development of the project:

First Award:	A grant donation of £10,000
Second Award	A grant donation of £5,000
Third Award	A grant donation of £3,000

The awards will be presented in Glasgow on Tuesday 25th June 2013.

Details of how to enter, the awards panel and the assessment criteria are included in this entry pack. Further information and extra entry packs are available from the awards secretariat, Jango Communications, by e-mailing Miss M Offer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Key Dates:

Closing date for receipt of Registration of Interest:	Friday 15th February 2013
Closing date for receipt of Full Entry (shortlisted entrants only):	Monday 25th March 2013
Filming of three finalists (not compulsory):	May 2013
Awards presentation:	Tuesday 25th June 2013

• Further information [ 0.9 Mb ]

Burden of Liver Disease and Inequalities in the North West of England

Foreword

Liver disease causes approximately 2% of all deaths in England. While other major causes of death are falling, the number of people who die from liver disease is rising and younger age groups are disproportionately affected.

This report collates routinely available data on the burden of liver disease and describes its relationship with inequalities. We hope that it will be a useful resource for Directors of Public Health, health and wellbeing boards, commissioners and providers of services as well as others involved in or with an interest in liver disease. We realise that there are gaps in the information where data are not routinely available. However, we hope the report serves as an important baseline to measure progress on reducing ill health caused by liver disease.

The first dedicated survey of hepatitis C services in prisons in England shows that diagnosis and treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection is available to prisoners in most prisons in England, but that care models available vary between in-reach service and out-reach based services. The aim of the survey was to collect basic information on what type of services are provided in prisons for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of prisoners infected by hepatitis C. There are some positive indications emerging from the survey, the most important one being that hepatitis C diagnostic services are now being offered in all prisons except one. A previous generic survey carried out in 2007 showed only two thirds of prisons testing. The results of this survey details useful information for policy makers, commissioners and service providers on models of good practice for provision of diagnosis, treatment and care of people living with hepatitis C infection in prisons in England. Download Report on DoH website

The Royal College of Physicians has been collaborating with the Map of Medicine since 2008. The Map of Medicine provides a visual representation of evidence-based, practice informed clinical care pathways. Communities looking to redesign services to meet additional demands use Map of Medicine care maps as a starting point for clinically-led service improvements. It is also increasingly being used as a starting point for the commissioning of services. It is made available free at point of care to NHS staff through licensing agreements with NHS Connecting for Health Local Service Providers and is also freely available to the public on the NHS Choices website.

The RCP has worked with its Fellows and Members to gather the practice-based knowledge for the evidence based care maps which are peer reviewed by our Joint Specialty Committee. Care maps relevant to GI are:

• Crohn's disease
• Dyspepsia
• Food allegy
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Obesity in adults
• Ulcerative colitis
• Alcohol dependence, withdrawal and liver disease
• Jaundice