Letters and circulars
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Letters and circulars
Circulars explain aspects of health and social care policy and regulation more fully. Many circulars are quasi-legislative and include a direction or requirement to take specific action. Letters provide key communication between DH and its NHS and social care audiences. Many circulars and letters include guidance on implementation of aspects of health and social care policy.
Advance letters
Details of agreements reached by Whitley Councils and negotiating bodies on terms and conditions of service for the main groups of staff working in healthcare.
Dear colleague letters
General information, policy updates or requests for information or action to a range of NHS and social care audiences.
Health service circulars
Formal communications, primarily to NHS chief executives, which usually contain a requirement for significant or urgent specific action.
Local authority social services letters
Access to local authority social services letters (LASSLs) since 1996, and earlier.
Professional letters
Letters from the heads of professions and other leaders to key audiences.
CMO update
Bi-annual newsletter sent from the Chief Medical Officer to doctors, which incorporates current topics, progress reports on earlier letters, and other information from the Department.
Firecode
Health Technical Memoranda and Fire Practice Notes which consider policy, technical guidance and specialist aspects of fire precautions.
Local authority circulars
Access to local authority circulars (LACs) since 1995, and earlier.
Estates alerts
Issued to the NHS on SABS (Safety Alert Broadcast Systems) to manage risks relating to non-medical equipment, engineering plant installed services and building fabric.
Additional links
Ordering publications
Contact details for obtaining hard-copy DH publications.
Additional links
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