The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have published new or updated guidance for the month of September 2016. This month there are three guidelines and one clinical guideline that impact upon primary care.
The Multimorbidity: clinical assessment and management guideline covers optimising care for adults with multimorbidity (multiple long-term conditions) by reducing treatment burden (polypharmacy and multiple appointments) and unplanned care. It aims to improve quality of life by promoting shared decisions based on what is important to each person in terms of treatments, health priorities, lifestyle and goals. The guideline sets out which people are most likely to benefit from an approach to care that takes account of multimorbidity, how they can be identified and what the care involves.
The Harmful sexual behaviour among children and young people guideline covers children and young people who display harmful sexual behaviour, including those on remand or serving community or custodial sentences. It aims to ensure these problems don’t escalate and possibly lead to them being charged with a sexual offence. It also aims to ensure no-one is unnecessarily referred to specialist services.
The Dementia clinical guideline was updated and covers preventing, diagnosing, assessing and managing dementia in health and social care, and includes recommendations on Alzheimer’s disease. It aims to improve care for people with dementia by promoting accurate diagnosis and the most effective interventions, and improving the organisation of services. The update replaces a recommendation with links to the Mental health problems in people with learning disabilities guideline.
The Mental health problems in people with learning disabilities guideline covers preventing, assessing and managing mental health problems in people with learning disabilities in all settings (including health, social care, education, and forensic and criminal justice). It aims to improve assessment and support for mental health conditions, and help people with learning disabilities and their families and carers to be involved in their care.
Action: Clinicians should be aware of this month's new guidance and implement any necessary changes to practice.