Ambition, action, achievement

... is the alliterative phrase attached to a draft framework document fulfilling the community service commitments of the final Darzi report. Along with the quality framework itself, there are 6 guidance papers, one of which addresses the inequalities agenda (Transforming community services for health, wellbeing and reducing inequalities). HSJ has an in-depth review of the framework document.

The state we're in

The 2009 health profiles have been released. Providing a snapshot of health at county or local authority level, they help commissioners and providers to target their activity where it's most needed. Regional and SHA level profiles will be available later in the year. Key changes highlighted by Public Health Minister Gillian Merron include reduction in rates of early death from cancer, heart disease and stroke, as well as increases in general life expectancy and of children's access to PE in state schools.

Target practice

A focus on routine and manual smokers for stop smoking services will make a significant contribution to achieving PSA and health inequality targets, DoH guidance argues. The guidance also stresses the importance of partnerships with local authorities and the third sector and awareness of the wider context of tobacco control.

Social enterprise

The Social Enterprise Investment Fund is accepting applications again, the DoH has announced. The Fund, which was set up in 2007, provides financing and business support for not-for-profit enterprises in the health and social care sector. The promotional report, Transforming Health and Social Care, gives case studies from earlier beneficiaries, including a cardiovascular screening project, a keep fit programme and St Luke's Healthy Living Centre in Southend.

Our house

Growing up in social housing looks at the relationship between housing, family circumstances and later development. The report, produced by the Tenant Services Authority, along with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, uses data from four studies, tracing samples of people born in 1946, 1958, 1970 and 2000, to examine the changing nature of social housing.

Decisions, decisions

How the healthcare system helps patients to make informed choices is the focus of a new policy paper from the Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham . The paper evaluates a range of communication methods and raises some serious questions about the use of the internet, which the authors suggest is "emerging as the government’s key delivery route for information about health services". Those areas of the population who are least well served by healthcare services, the paper argues, are also less likely to be able to access or search effectively many of these information resources.

... more equal than others

The Department of Health's Single Equality Scheme statement for 2009-2012 sets out policy and measures by which the DoH and will fulfill its obligations under current equality legislation, including the health inequalities agenda.