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: 22 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 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
