Collection Health circulars Health guidance issued to health boards and professionals as a circular. Part of: Health workforce First published: 8 December 2022 Last updated: 24 March 2023 In this collection Circulars 2023 Circulars 2022 Circulars 2021 Circulars 2020 Circulars 2019 Circulars 2018 Circulars 2017 Circulars 2016 Circulars 2015 Circulars 2014 Circulars 2004 Circulars 2023 COVID-19 spring booster 2023 (WHC/2023/04) 8 March 2023 Guidance Faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) in symptomatic colorectal cancer referral (WHC/2023/02) 31 January 2023 Guidance Eliminating hepatitis (B and C) as a public health threat: actions for 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024 (WHC/2023/001) 16 January 2023 Guidance Circulars 2022 Influenza (flu) vaccination programme deployment ‘mop up’ 2022 to 2023 (WHC/2022/035) 22 December 2022 Guidance Health board allocations for 2023 to 2024 (WHC (2022) 034) 15 February 2023 Guidance Further extending the use of Blueteq in secondary care (WHC/2022/032) 24 March 2023 Guidance Reimbursable vaccines and eligible cohorts for the 2023 to 2024 NHS seasonal influenza (flu) vaccination programme (WHC/2022/031) 8 December 2022 Guidance Follow-up advice on the polio catch-up programme for children under 5 years old (WHC/2022/029) 22 November 2022 Guidance Urgent polio catch-up programme for children under 5 years old (WHC/2022/027) 24 October 2022 Guidance Approach for respiratory viruses: technical guidance for healthcare planning (WHC 2022/026) 11 October 2022 Guidance All Wales guidance for prescribing intervals (WHC/2022/025) 16 December 2022 Guidance Changes to the vaccine for the HPV immunisation programme (WHC/2022/023) 9 September 2022 Guidance The role of the Community Dental Service (WHC/2022/022) 22 August 2022 Guidance National optimal pathways for cancer (WHC/2022/021) 28 July 2022 Guidance Never events: policy and incident list July 2022 (WHC/2022/020) 22 July 2022 Guidance NHS Wales non specialised paediatric orthopaedic services (WHC/2022/19) 21 June 2022 Guidance Suspected cancer pathway: guidelines (WHC/2022/18) 30 June 2022 Guidance Wales rare diseases action plan 2022 to 2026 (WHC/2022/017) 16 June 2022 Guidance The national influenza immunisation programme 2022 to 2023 (WHC/2022/16) 1 June 2022 Guidance Changes to the vaccine for the HPV immunisation programme (WHC/2022/015) 1 June 2022 Guidance Healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance improvement goals (WHC/2022/014) 1 March 2022 Guidance Health boards, special health authorities and trusts financial monitoring guidance 2022 to 2023 (WHC 2022/013) 27 April 2022 Guidance Donation and transplantation plan 2022 to 2026 (WHC/2022/12) 16 June 2022 Guidance COVID-19 patient testing framework (WHC/2022/011) 22 September 2022 Guidance Reimbursable vaccines and eligible cohorts for the 2022 to 2023 NHS seasonal influenza (flu) vaccination programme (WHC/2022/010) 29 March 2022 Guidance Prioritisation of COVID-19 patient episodes by NHS Wales clinical coding departments: WHC/2022/009 4 April 2022 Guidance New records management code of practice for health and care 2022 (WHC/2022/008) 29 July 2022 Guidance Recording of dementia read codes (WHC/2022/007) 15 February 2022 Guidance Direct paramedic referral to same day emergency care: All Wales policy (WHC/2022/006) 21 April 2022 Guidance Welsh Value in Health Centre: data requirements (WHC/2022/005) 24 March 2022 Guidance Paediatric continence containment products (WHC/2022/004) 31 October 2022 Guidance Adult continence products (WHC/2022/003) 31 October 2022 Guidance NHS Wales national clinical audit and outcome review plan annual rolling programme for 2022 to 2023 (WHC/2022/002) 14 June 2022 Guidance Circulars 2021 Health board allocations 2022 to 2023 (WHC/2021/034) 9 February 2022 Guidance Role and provision of oral surgery in Wales (WHC/2021/033) 14 December 2021 Guidance Role and provision of dental public health in Wales (WHC/2021/032) 16 November 2021 Guidance NHS Wales Planning Framework 2022 to 2025 (WHC/2021/031) 9 November 2021 Guidance NHS Wales blood health plan (WHC/2021/027) 27 September 2021 Guidance Overseas visitors' eligibility to receive free primary care (WHC/021/026) 6 October 2021 Guidance All Wales Carpal tunnel syndrome pathway (WHC 2021/025) 15 September 2021 Guidance NHS Wales’ contribution towards a net-zero public sector by 2030 (WHC/2021/024) 8 September 2021 Guidance Care decisions for the last days of life (WHC/2021/023) 23 September 2021 Guidance Publication of the quality and safety framework (WHC/2021/022) 17 September 2021 Guidance Introduction of Shingrix® for immunocompromised individuals from September 2021 (WHC/2021/021) 1 September 2021 Guidance The national influenza immunisation programme 2021 to 2022 (WHC/2021/019) 4 August 2021 Guidance Protocol for dealing with violence and aggression towards NHS staff (WHC/2021/012) 22 April 2021 Guidance Health boards and trusts financial monitoring guidance 2021 to 2022 (WHC 2021/011) 23 April 2021 Guidance Review of standing orders, reservation and delegation of powers (WHC/2021/010) 16 September 2021 Guidance School entry hearing screening pathway (WHC/2021/009) 25 March 2021 Guidance Revised national steroid treatment card (WHC/2021/008) 27 May 2021 Guidance The Healthy Child Wales Programme: 6 week post-natal GP physical examination of babies (WHC/2021/007) 11 March 2021 Guidance Elections to Senedd Cymru May 2021: guidance for NHS Wales (WHC/2021/006) 10 March 2021 Guidance National Health Service Directions on cross border healthcare and reimbursement of costs of treatment within the EU (WHC/2021/005) 6 April 2021 Guidance The national influenza immunisation programme 2021 to 2022 (WHC/2021/004) 19 February 2021 Guidance Senedd Election 2021: letter to NHS health boards and trusts (WHC/2021/003) 11 March 2021 Guidance Health board and trust champions: assessment of roles (WHC/2021/002) 19 January 2021 Guidance Circulars 2020 Health board allocations: 2021 to 2022 (WHC/2020/025) 5 January 2020 Guidance EU exit: continuity of medicine supply at the end of the transition period (WHC/2020/023) 22 December 2020 Guidance NHS Wales Annual Planning framework: health circular (WHC/2020/022) 14 December 2020 Guidance Health and wellbeing support for NHS health boards and trusts workforce (WHC/2020/019) 30 October 2020 Guidance Support for GP premises liabilities (WHC/2020/018) 1 October 2020 Guidance Procedure for the performance management, removal or suspension of NHS non-officer board members (WHC/2020)/016) 10 December 2020 Policy and strategy Policy on single use and reusable laryngoscopes (WHC/2020/015) 22 September 2020 Policy and strategy Ear Wax Management Primary and Community Care Pathway (WHC/2020/014) 29 September 2020 Policy and strategy The national influenza immunisation programme 2020 to 2021 (WHC/2020/013) 14 August 2020 Guidance Clinical assessment of COVID-19 in the community (WHC/2020/012) 4 August 2020 Guidance Temporary amendments to model standing orders, reservation and delegation of powers (WHC 2020/011) 9 July 2020 Guidance The national influenza immunisation programme 2020 to 2021 (WHC/2020/009) 21 May 2020 Guidance Reuse of end of life medicines in hospices and care homes during COVID-19 (WHC/2020/008) 30 April 2020 Guidance Continuation of immunisation programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic: letter from CMO (WHC/2020/006) 6 April 2020 Guidance NHS Wales Value Based Healthcare Programme: data requirements (WHC/2020/03) 23 February 2022 Guidance Circulars 2019 Reuse of end of life medicines in hospices and care homes during COVID-19 (WHC/2020/008) 30 April 2020 Guidance Annual Quality Statement 2019 to 2020 (WHC/2019/042) 23 December 2019 Guidance Infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) immunisation schedule: changes (WHC/2019/041) 19 December 2019 Guidance Health board allocations: 2020 to 2021 (WHC/2019/040) 19 December 2019 Guidance Use of chaperones during intimate medical procedures (WHC/2019/039) 17 January 2020 Guidance Provision of continence containment products for adults (WHC/2019/038) 11 December 2019 Guidance Ordering influenza vaccines for 2020 to 2021 (WHC/2019/037) 28 November 2019 Guidance UK general election 2019: guidance for NHS Wales (WHC/2019/036) 8 November 2019 Guidance UK general election 2019: guidance for Welsh Government officials (WHC/2019/035) 6 November 2019 Guidance National optimal pathways for cancer (WHC/2022/021) 28 July 2022 Guidance Recording the communication needs of patients with sensory loss (WHC/2019/032) 20 September 2019 Guidance Flow of personal data following Brexit: guidance for public sector bodies (WHC/2019/031) 20 September 2019 Guidance NHS Wales national integrated medium term plan (IMTP) 2019 to 2022 (WHC/2019/030) 20 September 2019 Guidance NHS Wales planning framework 2020 to 2023 (WHC/2019/029) 20 September 2019 Guidance Review of standing orders, reservation and delegation of powers (WHC 2019/027 ) 12 September 2019 Guidance Standardisation of nursing core risk assessment documents (WHC/2019/026) 20 August 2019 Guidance Health circulars published between February and July 2019 (WHC/2019/025) 7 August 2019 Guidance Pertussis vaccination for healthcare workers (WHC/2019/024) 30 July 2019 Guidance Healthcare workers infected with bloodborne viruses (WHC/2019/023) 25 July 2019 Guidance Community dental service (WHC/2019/021) 23 July 2019 Guidance Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) pathway: guidance for health professionals (WHC/2019/018) 6 June 2019 Guidance Living with persistent pain: letter from Chief Medical Officer (WHC/2019/017) 7 May 2019 Guidance The national influenza immunisation programme 2019 to 2020 (WHC/2019/015) 16 April 2019 Guidance Disputed debts between NHS organisations: guidance (WHC/2019/014) 12 April 2019 Guidance Obstetric bleeding strategy: implementation (WHC/2019/012) 29 April 2019 Guidance Implementing recommendations of the review of sexual health services (WHC/2019/011) 5 March 2019 Guidance Changes to the shingles immunisation programme (WHC/2019/008) 14 February 2019 Guidance NHS annual quality statement 2018 to 2019 (WHC/2019/007) 13 February 2019 Guidance National clinical audit and outcome review plan (WHC/2019/006) 9 May 2019 Guidance Brexit and medicines supply (WHC/2019/005) 5 February 2019 Guidance Ordering influenza vaccinations for 2019 to 2020: update (WHC/2019/002) 30 January 2019 Guidance Availability of gluten free foods for the treatment for coeliac disease (WHC/2019/001) 17 January 2019 Guidance Circulars 2018 Reporting pressure ulcers (WHC/2018/051) 21 December 2018 Guidance Health board allocations: 2019 to 2020 (WHC/2018/050) 11 December 2018 Guidance Eligibility for non routine immunisations (WHC/2018/048) 12 November 2018 Guidance England and Wales NHS cross border healthcare (WHC/2018/047) 6 November 2018 Guidance Ordering influenza vaccinations for 2019 to 2020 (WHC/2018/045) 12 November 2018 Guidance NHS dentistry: clinical audit, peer review and quality improvement (WHC/2018/044) 14 December 2018 Guidance NHS Wales infrastructure investment: guidance 22 October 2018 Guidance Patients' NHS Wales experience (WHC/2018/042) 11 October 2018 Guidance Raising awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning (WHC/2018/041) 5 November 2018 Guidance Cannabis based products for medicinal use (WHC/2018/039) 30 October 2018 Guidance Flu vaccinations and clinics for the over 65s (WHC/2018/037) 29 August 2018 Guidance Flu vaccinations for residential care and nursing home staff in 2018 (WHC/2018/036) 23 August 2018 Guidance Feeding in the first year of life (WHC/2018/035) 10 October 2018 Guidance Supply and ordering of BCG vaccine (WHC/2018/034) 31 July 2018 Guidance Books on prescription for dementia (WHC/2018/031) 18 September 2018 Guidance Sensory loss communication needs: data standards (WHC/2018/030) 28 September 2018 Guidance Ionising radiation (medical exposure) regulations (WHC/2018/029) 16 August 2018 Guidance NHS Wales national clinical audit and outcome review plan 2018 to 2019 (WHC/2018/028) 1 July 2018 Guidance Primary care quality and delivery measures (WHC/2018/026) 16 July 2018 Guidance Moving secondary services to primary and community care (WHC/2018/025) 26 July 2018 Guidance Intrapartum fetal surveillance standards for maternity services (WHC/2018/024) 28 November 2018 Guidance The national influenza immunisation programme 2018 to 2019 (WHC/2018/023) 6 June 2018 Guidance Sharing patient information between eye health professionals (WHC/2018/022) 3 September 2018 Guidance Diagnosing and treating Lyme disease (WHC/2018/021) 1 June 2018 Guidance Antimicrobial resistance (WHC/2018/020) 4 May 2018 Guidance Supporting quality and safety for dental registrants (WHC/2018/019) 27 June 2018 Guidance Cardiac treatment waiting lists: management rules (WHC/2018/018) 24 April 2018 Guidance Local health board financial returns: guidance 2018 to 2019 (WHC/2018/017) 20 April 2018 Guidance Ordering adjuvanted flu vaccine 2018 to 2019 (WHC/2018/015) 5 April 2018 Guidance Communication standards between primary and secondary care (WHC/2018/014) 3 May 2018 Guidance Patient safety incidents (WHC/2018/012) 1 March 2018 Guidance Car parking management: guidance (WHC/2018/010) 5 April 2018 Guidance Service standards for conscious sedation in a dental care setting (WHC/2018/009) 18 June 2018 Guidance Ionising radiation: requirements from February 2018 (WHC/2018/007) 1 February 2018 Guidance NHS research and development finance policy (WHC/2018/005) 20 March 2018 Guidance Health and social care research: UK policy (WHC/2018/004) 1 February 2018 Guidance Administration of intravenous contrast medium for patients with renal impairment (WHC/2018/003) 5 April 2018 Guidance Safe clinical use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (WHC/2018/001) 5 February 2018 Guidance Circulars 2017 Attaining the WHO targets for eliminating hepatitis B and C (WHC/2017/048) 16 October 2017 Guidance Supply and use of adrenaline auto injectors in schools (WHC/2017/046) 2 October 2017 Guidance Healthcare workers infected with bloodborne viruses (WHC/2017/045) 20 November 2017 Guidance Care of children and young people with continence problems (WHC/2017/044) 18 September 2017 Guidance Managing the care of babies born on the threshold of survival (WHC/2017/043) 20 September 2017 Guidance NHS Wales agency and locum programme (WHC/2017/042) 23 October 2017 Guidance Armed forces covenant: healthcare priority for veterans (WHC /2017/41) 5 September 2017 Guidance Hexavalent vaccine for baby immunisation schedule (WHC/2017/039) 9 August 2017 Guidance NHS Wales peer review (WHC/2017/037) 24 July 2017 Guidance Guide to consent for examination or treatment: revised guidance (WHC/2017/036) 24 July 2017 Guidance Non-medical prescribing in Wales (WHC/2017/035) 12 July 2017 Guidance Policy on the management of point of care testing (WHC/2017/034) 12 July 2017 Guidance Guidelines for the management of brain injury (WHC/2017/029) 23 November 2021 Guidance NHS Wales blood health plan (WHC/2017/028) 28 September 2017 Guidance Prescribing of co-proxamol (WHC/2017/026) 16 June 2017 Guidance Cyber security and information governance (WHC/2017/025) 4 July 2017 Guidance Designed to Smile child oral health improvement programme (WHC/2017/23) 19 June 2017 Guidance Change of vaccine for routine primary infant immunisation (WHC/2017/022) 15 May 2017 Guidance Children who have outstanding routine immunisations: national enhanced service specification (WHC/2017/021) 10 May 2017 Guidance Reducing hospital food waste (WHC/2017/018) 7 June 2017 Guidance Changes to the shingles immunisation programme (WHC/2017/017) 7 April 2017 Guidance Employer led supervision of midwives (WHC/2017/015) 5 April 2017 Guidance Reducing healthcare associated infections (WHC/2017/011) 11 April 2017 Guidance Provision of mental health support for asylum seekers and refugees (WHC/2017/009) 23 February 2017 Guidance NHS Wales policy for the repatriation of patients (WHC/2017/008) 8 March 2017 Guidance Healthcare associated infection, device usage and antimicrobial usage survey (WHC/2017/005) 31 March 2017 Guidance HPV vaccination for men who have sex with men (WHC/2017/003) 13 January 2017 Guidance Community dental services: terms and conditions of service (WHC/2017/002) 20 October 2017 Guidance New treatment fund: directions on implementation timescales (WHC/2017/001) 21 April 2017 Guidance Circulars 2016 Critical care escalation management of large unplanned increases in demand (WHC/2016/049) 30 January 2017 Guidance CT scanning and general x-ray: good practice report (WHC/2016/048) 14 June 2016 Guidance Quality standards for children’s hearing services 2016 (WHC/2016/47) 23 November 2016 Guidance Quality standards for adult hearing rehabilitation services 2016 (WHC/2016/46) 23 November 2016 Guidance Vitamin D intake: revised guidelines (WHC/2016/043) 19 October 2016 Guidance Revised guidelines for the transfer of the critically ill adult (WHC/2016/041) 18 October 2016 Guidance Prescribing hormone therapy for trans adults (WHC/2016/040) 27 September 2016 Guidance Cessation of antenatal rubella screening (WHC/2016/038) 11 August 2016 Guidance Certification of vision impairment (WHC/2016/036) 30 September 2016 Guidance Local health board and NHS trust websites (WHC/2016/033) 28 June 2016 Guidance Prescribing guidance for pregabalin and gabapentin (WHC/2016/030) 6 July 2016 Guidance Hospital handover guidance (WHC/2016/029) 5 May 2016 Guidance Implications of the Social Services and Well-being Act 2014 for health boards and trusts (WHC/2016/028) 5 June 2016 Guidance Removal of the meningococcal serogroup C (MenC) vaccine for babies (WHC/2016/027) 14 April 2016 Guidance Delegating third party tasks (WHC/2016/025) 3 May 2016 Guidance Adult in-patient falls: principles and framework (WHC/2016/022) 12 April 2016 Guidance Change to the pertussis vaccination programme for pregnant women (WHC/2016/020) 16 June 2016 Guidance Review of low and medium secure placements in independent hospitals (WHC/2016/019) 18 March 2016 Guidance Dental foundation training (WHC/2016/016) 10 July 2019 Guidance Instruments for tonsil and adenoid surgeries (WHC/2016/014) 7 March 2016 Guidance Reciprocal healthcare agreements (WHC/2016/013) 2 March 2016 Guidance Eye Health Examination Wales (EHEW): cataract patient pathway (WHC/2016/010) 1 March 2016 Guidance Female genital mutilation (FGM): guidance (WHC/2016/009) 4 April 2016 Guidance Health issues and learning disability (WHC/2016/008) 3 February 2016 Guidance Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae: infection prevention and control (WHC/2016/007) 15 February 2016 Guidance Community dental service (WHC/2016/005) 2 February 2016 Guidance Continuing NHS Healthcare (CHC): retrospective claims (WHC/2016/003) 1 February 2016 Guidance New guidelines on drinking alcohol (WHC/2016/001) 14 January 2016 Guidance Circulars 2015 Post-mortem examination of a baby following a stillbirth (WHC/2015/057) 10 November 2015 Guidance Health professionals duty to report female genital mutilation (WHC/2015/051) 23 October 2015 Guidance Decontamination of medical devices (WHC/2015/050) 6 January 2016 Guidance Use of the NHS number: operational standards (WHC/2015/049) 6 November 2015 Guidance Prescribing antidepressants to children and young people (WHC/2015/048) 8 October 2015 Guidance Social services and well-being legislation (WHC/2015/045) 25 September 2015 Guidance Oral surgery and medicine services (WHC/2015/041) 29 January 2015 Guidance Continuing NHS Healthcare (CHC): retrospective claims (WHC/2015/039) 27 July 2015 Guidance Meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccination (WHC/2015/037) 23 July 2015 Guidance Information governance training across Welsh health boards (WHC/2015/036) 3 August 2015 Guidance The NHS (Cross-Border Healthcare) (Telemedicine) (Wales) Directions 2015 (WHC/2015/035) 30 July 2015 Policy and strategy Sharing patient information between eye health professionals (WHC/2015/022) 28 May 2015 Guidance Guidance on the disposal of foetal remains (WHC/2015/021) 6 May 2015 Guidance Changes to the shingles vaccination programme (WHC/2015/019) 30 April 2015 Guidance People’s access to their electronic care records (WHC/2015/013) 9 April 2015 Guidance Children's vision pathway for 4 to 5 year olds (WHC/2015/011) 21 April 2015 Guidance Radiotherapy data set introduction (WHC/2015/006) 2 March 2016 Guidance Outpatient follow-up backlog monitoring (WHC/2015/005) 23 January 2015 Guidance Dementia care register guidance (WHC/2015/004) 3 February 2015 Guidance Improving access to specialist primary care dental services (WHC/2015/002) 9 February 2015 Guidance Improving oral health for older people living in care homes (WHC/2015/001) 9 February 2015 Guidance Circulars 2014 Prudent healthcare update (WHC/2014/002) 5 December 2014 Report Key workers for cancer patients (WHC/2014/001) 20 November 2014 Guidance Circulars 2004 NHS funded nursing care in care homes 2004 (WHC/2004/024) 1 April 2004 Guidance
