IHAS Publications

The Independent Healthcare Advisory Services aim to keep its members up to date with the many changing and developing areas of operational policy. Important themes are communicated to members each month through a detailed set of papers, available only to members.

When you become a member of the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services these documents are available behind the membership login, where you can download them at will.

IHAS Update

• Read the IHAS Update paper

The Advisory Services endeavour to keep its members up to date with news, views and snippets from the dynamic world of health care. Each month it monitors information being published by the main health care agencies such as the NHS, NPSA, NICE, HPC, GMC and other regulatory and government bodies. Key information is summarised to members each month in the Advisory Services’s IHAS Update.

Medicine and Public Health Alerts

• Visit the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency website

The Advisory Services monitor all alert notices from the Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Medical Devices Agency, Medicine Control Agency and public health alerts issued by the Chief Medical Officer. These are summarised, emphasising any necessary action that needs to be taken, and each month a comprehensive list is prepared that is circulated to members.

All MDA Hazard Notices, Safety Notices, Device Alerts from 1995 to the present and Pacemaker Technical Notes are available on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Circular and Press Release updates

• Read our Circulars and Press Releases

Each month the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services receives a number of health Circulars and Press Releases from a number of agencies. A key selection of the most important is compiled every month and circulated to members.

Codes of Practice and Guidance Notes

• Read our Codes of Practice

A key role of the Advisory Services is to provide its members with guidance on matters of regulation and to provide a focus for the development of operational policy across the sector. This often involves working groups, facilitated by the Advisory Services, with participants drawn from the many specialists and highly experienced people whose organisations are members.

In response to the evolving regulatory agenda the Advisory Services have published a number of Codes of Practice, guidance and briefing notes.

Responses to Consultations

• Read our Consultation Documents

Representing the independent health care sector, the Advisory Services is invited to respond to Consultation Documents circulated by organisations such as the Healthcare Commission, the Department of Health and the NHS. The Advisory Services draw on knowledge and opinions throughout the sector. Whilst individual organisations may also have the opportunity to respond directly, and from their own perspective, the Advisory Services are able to provide a view on behalf of the sector.

This means that the Advisory Services offers a real benefit for members, by reviewing all consultations and informing members about the ongoing debate and outcomes. Where necessary the Advisory Services act to modify proposals to ensure that they reflect the needs of the sectors.