 These monthly bulletins share important updates, guidance, and insights with providers. We want to understand how they are working for you.
This short survey is an opportunity to share your views on what’s helpful, what’s less useful, and what could be improved. Your feedback will directly support improvements to future bulletins and how information is shared with providers.
The survey is quick to complete and your responses will remain confidential.
We have been made aware that a small number of providers have been contacted by people posing as CQC inspectors. Genuine inspectors visiting in person carry ID badges that include:
- a photograph of the inspector on the front
- a copy of our warrant on the reverse
- the signature of our Chief Executive in post at the time the card was issued.
If you are unsure about the identity of an inspector, please contact our enquiries team on 03000 616161. Our team can check the inspector's details before you allow them onto your premises.
For more information, including how to check the identity of a Specialist Advisor or what to do if an inspector contacts you by phone or email, .
The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a consultation on proposals to extend smoke‑free places and introduce heated tobacco‑free and vape‑free places in England.
The proposals include a focus on health and care settings, such as hospitals, GP surgeries, dental practices, care homes with nursing, residential care homes and assisted living homes.
The consultation seeks views on proposals to:
- Extend smoke‑free laws to certain outdoor public places, including outside some health and care settings
- Introduce heated tobacco‑free places in existing indoor smoke‑free locations, and in certain outdoor settings, including outside some health and care settings
- Introduce vape‑free places in existing indoor smoke‑free locations and some outdoor settings (outside health and care settings would not be vape‑free to support smoking cessation)
- Introduce limited exemptions, for example designated smoking, heated tobacco and (where relevant) vaping areas in certain outdoor health and care settings
- Define boundaries and signage requirements for smoke‑free, heated tobacco‑free and vape‑free places.
The consultation closes on 8 May at 23:59. Please direct any queries to tobaccoandvapesconsultations@dhsc.gov.uk
Local authorities and adult social care providers can choose to access a range of equipment through NHS Supply Chain, which offers products from multiple suppliers without the need to run individual tenders. This can reduce administrative burden and provide access to clinically assured products through a single route.
NHS Supply Chain operates seven regional and one national distribution centre, using stocked and direct‑shipment supply routes. Equipment can be delivered to a nominated requisition point, which may help strengthen resilience to future supply disruptions.
A list of available products and services is available online. NHS Supply Chain does not currently provide maintenance, collection or recycling of community equipment, but use of the service may still support continuity of supply during disruptions.
To order, providers must set up an account online. Support is available for account setup, and further guidance on the service offer is also available.
This month’s Digital Care In Focus theme examined the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in adult social care, including its growing presence in digital systems and the potential benefits and risks for services and the workforce. Further resources, including articles and case studies, are available via Digital Care Hub – AI and Social Care.
A programme of related webinars and events is scheduled during April and May:
Other news
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- Thank you to everyone who attended our Assessment Framework Roadshow in Manchester and Birmingham. If you attended or had signed up but were unable to attend, please share your feedback via the relevant survey to help shape the next phase of this work.
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Colleagues in the NHS England National Patient Safety Team have shared information about an emerging safety risk related to the ingestion of denture cleaner tablets in both hospital and residential care settings. This follows reported incidents of harm to residents and patients following inadvertent, and in some cases deliberate, ingestion of these products. Denture cleaner tablets can look and smell similar to mints, increasing the risk that they may be accidentally swallowed. It is important that carers and staff recognise the corrosive effects of these products if they are left accessible to, and swallowed by, vulnerable patients, particularly those living with dementia. Staff should also be able to recognise deterioration and promptly escalate care if it is suspected that someone has ingested a denture cleaner tablet. Further information is available in the accompanying guidance.
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NHS.net Connect is replacing NHSmail, bringing email, collaboration tools, learning and support into a single service. A new Launchpad provides access to Outlook, Teams, OneDrive and related tools through a refreshed interface. NHS.net Connect continues to offer secure, encrypted email, safe file sharing and collaboration across NHS services. Microsoft Teams remains the recommended platform for secure video consultations, providing encrypted calls and a consistent experience across desktop, mobile and browser. Further information is available via the NHS.net Connect Support Hub.
Guidance and links
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