Health Management and Policy Alert

Technology-enabled lives: delivering outcomes for people and providers

TEC Action Alliance - 

This paper (produced in partnership with over 30 organisations) highlights the lack of widespread adoption of digital social care services despite the public’s desire for technology to better support those who draw on social care and health services. The paper reveals that only a handful of councils, housing, and care organisations are delivering digital care in people’s homes at scale. This is despite evidence that using technology in social care keeps people safe, healthy, and happy at home.

• Report
• More detail

Transforming Integrated Care in the Community (TICC): blueprint

Health and Europe Centre - 

This report captures the key lessons of a project undertaken by organisations in four European countries (UK, France, the Netherlands and Belgium) to explore what is involved in taking a highly successful innovation in one national context and applying it in others. The example of Buurtzorg was chosen because of its undoubted and extraordinary success in its country of origin, the Netherlands, where it has revolutionised community-based health and care services. Its achievements - improving care, the jobs of professionals providing care, and resource use - provided the inspiration for the organisations that came together as partners in this project with a view to replicating its achievements in their own countries and localities.

• Report
• More detail

 

One size doesn’t fit all: reimagining medicines information for patients

Kent Surrey Sussex Academic Health Science Network (KSS AHSN) - 

This report investigates the current medicines product information paradigm and whether it can be enhanced to more positively influence both patient experience of and adherence with prescription medication. The report also explores if an opportunity exists to improve how this information might be provided in the future using digital solutions with the aim of increasing its value to patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs). Patients, carers, healthcare professionals (HCPs) and senior healthcare system stakeholders were asked what they think about current medicines product information, and if it could be improved using digital solutions.

• Report
• More detail

Continuing to pay the price: the impact of prescription charges on people living with long term conditions

Prescription Charges Coalition (PCC) - 

A survey of more than 4,000 people with long-term conditions has found that having to pay for a prescription stops some people getting the medicines they need. The survey also showed people with long-term health conditions who cannot afford their medication are visiting their GPs and A&E more than before. There has also been an increase in hospital stays, mental health issues and time off work. The Prescription Charges Coalition brings together around 50 organisations and professional bodies to campaign to scrap prescription charges in England for people with long-term conditions

• Report
• More detail

Social prescribing for unpaid carers: information for carers centres

 

This short guide is for anyone working at a local carer support organisation and explains what social prescribing is, how it can help unpaid carers, and how you can get involved in social prescribing projects. The document has been co-designed by Carers Trust and Carers UK, local carer support organisations, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England.

• Guide
• More detail

UK CMOs' physical activity guidelines communications framework: main guidance

Department of Health and Social Care - 

The communications framework provides guidance for the UK and devolved government administrations on how to communicate the UK chief medical officers’ physical activity guidelines to key professionals and practitioners who are required to know, understand and apply the guidelines in practice. The framework also recognises the role of system enablers - those who can support policy and infrastructure developments that enable the guidelines to be implemented.

• Guidance
• More detail

Independent review of the NHS Business Services Authority: final report and recommendations

Department of Health and Social Care - 
In June 2022, as part of the Cabinet Office Public Bodies Review Programme, the Department of Health and Social Care began its review of the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). The review’s aim was to ensure that this public body is efficient and works effectively for citizens. The report of the NHSBSA review covers the following areas: public body assessment; accountability; governance; efficiency; efficacy; and capabilities. The report makes 18 recommendations.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Educator workforce strategy

Health Education England -
This strategy aims to ensure that the NHS has a sustainable supply of educators to support the development of the health care workforce. It sets out seven priorities that will lead to sufficient capacity and quality of educators to allow the growth in healthcare workforce that is needed to deliver care, now and in the future. It describes concerns in the health care education sector and from service providers about the capacity of educators to meet the current and future demands for education and training.

• Strategy
• Health Education England - news

A people plan for social care: white paper, March 2023 - a call to action

Institute of Health & Social Care Management -
This plan examines, through the voices of people living and working in social care, the current landscape including shortcomings and also outstanding practices. It looks at various subjects such as the mental health and wellbeing of people using care, policy and regulation, and equality, diversity and inclusion. It makes a series of recommendations with the aim of improving social care.

• Report
• Institute of Health & Social Care Management - publications

Public health annual report 2023: supporting communities in difficult times

Local Government Association -
This report reflects on the last year and focusses on how councils have responded to the rising cost of living. It also discusses a year of uncertainty about the direction of public health policy and how the approach to tackling health inequalities has blunted optimism. Despite these pressures, this report demonstrates that councils, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector have responded positively to the challenges and that, building on the experience of the pandemic, public health is at the forefront of each local response.

• Local Government Association - publications

Stressed and overworked: what the Commonwealth Fund’s 2022 International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians in 10 Countries means for the UK

The Health Foundation - 
This analysis finds that UK GPs experience the highest stress and lowest job satisfaction compared to GPs in nine other high-income countries. The report analyses data from an international survey of 9,526 GPs in ten high-income countries, including 1,010 in the UK, carried out by The Commonwealth Fund. It finds that the majority of GPs in all countries are dealing with higher workloads than before the pandemic. UK GPs report higher levels of emotional distress and bigger rises in workload than GPs in nearly all other countries, with many considering leaving the profession altogether. 71 per cent of UK GPs find their job ‘extremely’ or ‘very stressful’, the highest of the ten countries surveyed.

• Report
• The Health Foundation - press release

Exploring adult social care funding and delayed discharge

NHS Confederation - 

This briefing sets out detail and commentary on the funding announced for adult social care in the 2022 Autumn Statement. It does so in the important context of delayed discharge, offering joint Local Government Association and NHS Confederation illustrative thinking on the kind of actions that could be taken to help address immediate pressures in hospitals.

• Briefing

Health care funding: three key questions about funding in England

Health Foundation - 

This analysis from the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre explores the latest health care funding figures for England, including how much funding has been committed, how it compares to historical levels and how it stacks up against what is needed to meet current pressures facing health services. The analysis is based on the March 2023 OBR economic forecast and Treasury figures on spending plans from 15 March 2023 (the Spring Budget 2023).

• Analysis

Public health annual report 2023: supporting communities in difficult times

Local Government Association (LGA) - 

The LGA's eleventh annual public health report (jointly published with the Association of Directors of Public Health) reflects on the last year and focusses on how councils have responded to the rising cost of living.

• Annual report
• Press release

Reducing waiting lists by repurposing a Nightingale hospital into a protected elective centre

NHS Confederation - 

Waiting lists for some procedures in Devon have been cut by converting a Nightingale hospital into a protected elective centre delivering additional orthopaedic, ophthalmology and diagnostic activity. Cooperation between clinicians from different trusts has resulted in innovative ways of working. The Devon integrated care system has worked with local trusts – principally the Royal Devon University Health Foundation Trust but also Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust and University Hospitals Plymouth Trust – to deliver the extra capacity.

• Case study