Health Management and Policy Alert

Report of the Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Forum

The Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Forum was asked by the Secretary of State to help develop a new strategy for improving care for children and young people. This report, along with supporting documents, sets out the forum's proposals on improving health-related care for children and young people.

• Report
• Letter 
• Further reports and supporting documents

Health protection in local government

This guidance has been updated as the previous version was provisional guidance under review in light of public health regulations made under the 2006 act as amended by the Health and Social Care Act 2012. This document explains the new health protection duty of local authorities in line with the final 6C Regulations, which came into force on 1st April 2013.

• Guidance
• Department of Health - news

Care Bill, second reading: parliamentary briefing

This briefing provides an overview of the background on the government's Care Bill and outlines London Council's main concerns regarding the proposed changes to the funding of adult social care. It also highlights other areas of concern such as integrated care; personal budgets and direct payments; and provider failure.

• Briefing
• London Councils - policy and lobbying

Care Bill library note

This briefing note provides background information ahead of the second reading debate on the Care Bill in the House of Lords on 21st May 2013. It summarises the main developments in government policy since 2010 and sets out the provisions brought forward in the Care Bill. It then highlights two key additions to the bill since its publication in draft: the Government’s response to the funding scheme proposed by the Dilnot Commission and its legislative response to the Francis report. It concludes with reaction to the Bill in the House of Commons during the debate on the Queen’s Speech and captures some of the reaction and comment from a selection of organisations and charities.

• Briefing
• House of Lords library - research briefings

Evaluation of the first year of the Inner North West London Integrated Care Pilot

This report outlines the findings of our evaluation of the Inner North West London Integrated Care Pilot, which aimed to develop new forms of care for older people and those with diabetes. It found that the foundations for change had been laid, with the pilot making good progress in designing and implementing a complex intervention. Progress was underpinned by a new set of governance arrangements and financial incentives.

• Report
• Related talk from Director of Strategy for North West London PCT Cluster
• Press release
• Nuffield Trust - publications

Medical research among healthcare professionals in England

Arthritis Research UK, AMRC, Breast Cancer Campaign and the British Heart Foundation commissioned ComRes to interview 392 GPs, nurses and hospital doctors. The results showed universal agreement among that the NHS should support research into treatments for patients. However 91% of those surveyed identified barriers they had experienced to taking part in research, including lack of time, funding, practical support and difficulties navigating regulation. Responses also highlighted the practical challenges to be overcome if the NHS is to become an innovative research organisation driving improvements in patient care.

• AMRC - press release

Adult social care: choice framework

This framework sets out the different choices people are able to make in relation to their care and support, including: the right for people, including carers, to control the services they use; the right to choose residential care accommodation that suits them; and the right to access and receive information to inform choice. It also sets out where people can access further information, and how to complain if they are not offered choice.

• Framework
• Department of Health - publications

Learning from the LINks: resources for Healthwatch

These resources aim to preserve examples of good practice from the work of Local Involvement Networks (LINKs) and are also intended to help volunteers and staff feel supported in the transition to local Healthwatch. Resources are grouped around four themes: leadership and governance; representation; engagement; and influencing.

• Resources
• Regional Voices - news

The drive for quality: how to achieve safe, sustainable care in our emergency departments

This report calls for fundamental change in the way emergency care systems are designed, funded and run. Ten recommendations are made across four domains, based on the results of a survey of 131 emergency departments in the UK between 2011 and 2012. These domains cover: system redesign; expansion and sustainable working practices; radical funding change; and a better system to measure success.

• Report
• Summary
• Key messages
• College of Emergency Medicine - publications

Health equity

This series of summaries outlines how recommendations made as part of evidence based research could be applied to a range of European Union legislation, policies and programmes. They aim to improve international, national and local policies and practices within and beyond health systems, in order to promote better health and wellbeing.

• Chronic diseases and health equity
• Youth and health equity
• Sustainable lifestyles and health equity
• Equity Channel - publications