Health Management and Policy Alert

Priorities for adult social work research

Department of Health and Social Care -
This report from the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership sets out the top ten priorities for adult social work research. It aims to help make sure future research answers the questions that are important to social workers and those who are in contact with them. The priorities cover a broad range of themes and issues for adult social workers. These will help to improve understanding of the social work approaches and interventions that work and why, and help to achieve the best outcomes for people and their carers.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

The health care workforce in England: make or break?

The King's Fund -
In advance of the publication of the NHS long-term plan, this briefing highlights the scale of workforce challenges now facing the health service and the threat this poses to the delivery and quality of care over the next ten years. It sets out the reasons why the long-term plan and supporting workforce strategy must address the urgent and mounting challenges facing the health care workforce.

• Report
• The King's Fund - publications

Shifting the centre of gravity: making place-based, person-centred health and care a reality

Local Government Association -
The examples in this report aim to show what can be achieved by system leaders and staff from local government, the NHS, the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, and service user and carer groups working together to improve health and deliver person-centred care.

• Report
• Local Government Association - publications

Health matters: air pollution

Public Health England -
This resource focuses on air pollution and discusses how local authorities, supported by national policies, have an important role in assessing and improving local air quality - and how the cumulative effects of local action can be significant. It will be of particular value to local authority commissioners, directors of public health, environmental health officers, health and wellbeing boards, CCGs and health professionals.

• Guidance
• Public Health England - publications

Understanding the health care needs of people with multiple health conditions

The Health Foundation - 

Analysis of data from 2014 to 2016 for 300,000 people in England found that one in four adults had two or more health conditions, equating to approximately 14.2 million people in England. Over half (55 per cent) of hospital admissions and outpatient visits and three quarters (75 per cent) of primary care prescriptions are for people living with two or more conditions. In the least-deprived fifth of areas, people can expect to have two or more conditions by the time they are 71 years old, but in the most-deprived fifth, people reach the same level of illness a decade earlier, at 61 years of age.

• Briefing
• More detail

Each Baby Counts: 2018 progress report

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - 

This is the second Each Baby Counts annual report into stillbirth, early neonatal death and severe brain injury occurring during labour at term. Based on data for babies born in the UK in 2016, this report shines a spotlight on the care provided to women and their babies and provides an opportunity to measure progress and identify areas for improvement in maternity safety.

• Report
• More detail

Improving access and continuity in general practice: practical and policy lessons

Nuffield Trust - 

Improving access and continuity in general practice: practical and policy lessons

This report sets out the evidence on continuity of care, its impact on clinical outcomes and wider health services, its importance to patients and GPs, and the relationship between improved access initiatives and continuity of care within general practice. The report aims to help providers, commissioners and policy-makers maximise the opportunities to improve continuity provided by the additional investment in primary care to support improved access. It examines how to achieve the optimal balance between these two dimensions of care when redesigning services for local populations.

• Report
• More detail

Focused review of suicides among armed forces personnel

Defence Safety Authority - 

This focused review  of suicides in service personnel (SP) aims to identify additional measures for preventing suicide. This report is based on evidence drawn from a review of defence publications, an examination of published statistics relating to suicide, a systematic review of the academic literature, interviews with 53 key stakeholders across defence, a national and international benchmarking exercise and an original academic study of self-harm in the UK.

 

• Report
• More detail

Partnership agreement between Ministry of Defence and NHS England for the Commissioning of health services for the armed forces

NHS England - 

This agreement sets out a partnership approach, which enables the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to work with the NHS to plan and organise the delivery of healthcare for the armed forces community and support the best outcomes and experience for patients and their families and carers. This includes ensuring that those who have served in the armed forces have the best possible experience of the NHS and get the best care, regardless of whether they get help from their GP, a hospital or a specialist service.

• Agreement
• Press release

Tackling bullying in ambulance trusts: a guide for action

NHS Employers -

This guide contains analysis, advice, case studies and recommendations for how to tackle bullying and create positive cultures in ambulance trusts. It has been created by ambulance colleagues as a call to action to implement changes and improve staff experience.

• Guide
• More detail

Shortage occupation list 2018: call for evidence

Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) - 
The Migration Advisory Committee is carrying out a full review of the shortage occupation list and this call for evidence requests information from organisations with current recruitment shortages. This consultation closes on 6 January 2019.

• Consultation

Outpatients: the future – adding value through sustainability

Royal College of Physicians (RCP) - 
This report argues that a new approach to outpatient care is needed if it is to meet growing demand and reduce disruption to patients’ lives. It describes the current ‘one-size-fits-all’ model as no longer fit for purpose and recommends replacing it with a person-centred approach that recognises that people have varying health needs, personal pressures and abilities to self-care or manage.

• Report
• Press release

Budget 2018: what it means for health and social care

The King's Fund - 
In this joint piece with the Health Foundation and Nuffield Trust, we analyse what was announced in the 2018 Budget and what it means for health and social care.

• Briefing

LGBT in Britain: health report

Stonewall - 

Stonewall commissioned YouGov to carry out a survey asking more than 5,000 lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) people across England, Scotland and Wales about their life in Britain today. This report, part of a series based on the research, looks at mental health and well-being of LGBT people and investigates the specific experiences of LGBT people when accessing healthcare services. This study shows the rates of depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions among LGBT people. It also looks into the accessibility of healthcare services and discrimination LGBT people face when seeking medical support.

• Report
• Press release

Suicide prevention

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence -
NICE are consulting on a quality standard which will cover ways to reduce suicide and help people bereaved or affected by suicides in community and custodial settings. It does not cover national strategies, general mental wellbeing, or areas covered by other NICE quality standards such as self-harm or mental health conditions. The closing date for comments is 26 November 2018.

• Consultation documents
• NICE - project information and supporting documents