Health Management and Policy Alert

Untapped potential: district nursing services and the avoidance of unplanned admission to hospital

The Queen's Nursing Institute - 
This report describes how District Nurse Team Leaders have advanced skills in assessment, diagnosis and patient management which could be used to provide safe and effective care for people at home, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions. It argues that the NHS is failing to capitalise on the skills, knowledge and experience of District Nurses and instead is investing in new specialist teams of staff in the community, which may impact negatively on the continuity of care. At the same time, the number of District Nurses has fallen dramatically.

• Report
• The Queen's Nursing Institute - news

Fit for the future: what can the NHS learn about digital health care from other European countries?

Nuffield Trust -
The rapid increase in the use of technology during the Covid-19 pandemic has shown that digital health technology will be a fundamental part of health system recovery and for preparing for the future. This report examines the approach that five European countries have taken to implementing digital technology and draw out learnings for the NHS.

• Report
• Nuffield Trust - news

Putting data, digital and tech at the heart of transforming the NHS

Department of Health and Social Care - 
This review sets out nine recommendations, which the Secretary of State has confirmed he will accept in full. It argues for a shift in culture, operating model, skills, capabilities and processes to put data, digital and technology at the heart of how we transform health services. It recognises progress made by NHS Digital and NHSX during the past two years of the pandemic.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

A ‘radically realistic’ vision for adult social care

The King's Fund - 

There has been a collective failure to deliver reform of adult social care in England for at least two decades. It has left a system struggling with a series of problems: an overly-stringent means test; catastrophic costs; unmet need; patchy care quality; poor workforce pay and conditions; a fragile provider market; disjointed care; and a ‘postcode lottery’ of access.

• Long read

 

Health and care bill: report stage

NHS Confederation - 

The NHS Confederation is concerned that unchecked powers for the Secretary of State risk undermining progress towards integration, transparency, patient safety and quality of care.

• Briefing
• More detail

Mind the gap: an investigation into maternity training for frontline professionals across the UK 2020/21

Baby Lifeline - 

This report, compiled from data received from Freedom of Information requests submitted to NHS trusts, examines the on-going training actually delivered to maternity professionals. It once again shows there is not sufficient on-going training and that NHS trusts are delivering less training today – and are spending less on it – than they were in 2017/18. Baby Lifeline is urging the government to commit funding to address the issues that this report highlights, in particular to ensure the correct level of training is delivered and that the staffing is in place to allow for that training.

• Report
• More detail

Review of health and social care leadership in England: terms of reference

Department of Health and Social Care - 

The government announced a review of leadership in health and social care, to be led by former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Gordon Messenger and supported by Dame Linda Pollard, Chair of Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust. The terms of reference outline the scope for the leadership review to consider what is needed to improve how health and social care is led and managed in England. The review will consider how to foster and replicate the best examples of leadership. It aims to reduce regional disparities in efficiency and health outcomes across the country.

• Terms of reference
• More detail

Payment models for multi-indication therapies

Office of Health Economics (OHE) - 

For the growing number of multi-indication medicines, access may be delayed or even denied due to challenges in linking payment with a medicine’s value across those indications. The OHE assembled a broad range of stakeholders to work toward consensus on the challenges and solutions which promote better patient access and sustainable health care and innovation.

• Report
• More detail

 

Gendered experiences of obesity: narrowing gender gaps in prevention and treatment

Social Market Foundation - 

This report explores gendered experiences of obesity in the UK , examining how obesity rates differ between men and women, the drivers of these trends and the extent to which policy aimed at reducing obesity rates needs to be gender specific.

• Report
• Press release

NICE impact: people with a learning disability

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) - 

Having a learning disability can affect how a person learns new things during their lifetime. They may need a range of extra support throughout life, depending on the complexity of their learning disability. This report, reviewing the impact of NICE guidance, highlights the lack of progress made in many areas. Data shows high levels of health inequality and limited positive change over time.

• Report
• More detail

The future of NHS human resources and organisational development

NHS England and NHS Improvement - 

This report outlines the ten-year strategy for the human resources (HR) and organisational development (OD) services in the NHS. It is aimed at HR and OD directors, chief people officers, HR and OD practitioners, managers, leaders and anyone with an interest in HR and OD.

• Report
• More detail

Towards true universal care: reforming the NHS charging system

Institute for Public Policy Research - 

The system of charging migrants for healthcare in England has become increasingly stringent in recent years. Since the introduction of the new rules, there is a growing body of evidence highlighting their adverse impacts. Through interviews with people with direct experience of NHS charging, healthcare workers and policy professionals, this study found further evidence of systemic problems with the current charging system. Other countries in Europe operate fairer systems to provide healthcare for residents without immigration status. Drawing on these examples alternatives to the current system were tested out with the expert interviewees. Based on these interviews, a shortlist was drawn up of five alternatives to the current charging system.

• Report
• More detail

Making homes fit for ageing and caring

Care & Repair England - 

This report  reviews the consequences of Covid-19 and associated ‘lockdowns’ for older people in England with particular reference to their housing, health and well-being, and considers the post-pandemic housing policy implications.

• Report
• More detail

Crowding and its consequences

Royal College of Emergency Medicine - 

Against the backdrop of long ambulance delays experienced across the UK, high levels of crowding in emergency departments (EDs), and record-breaking numbers of patients experiencing the longest waits, this report examines crowding and its consequences. It finds that at least 4,519 patients have died as a result of crowding and twelve hour stays in EDs in England in 2020-2021. The report urges governments, NHS England and devolved equivalents, integrated care systems, and trusts to take a system wide approach to tackling the problem.

• Report
• Press release

Nowhere else to turn: exploring high intensity use of accident and emergency services

British Red Cross - 

People who frequently attend accident and emergency (A&E) a make up less than one per cent of the population, but account for a significant proportion of all A&E attendances, ambulance journeys and hospital admissions. It is estimated they cost the NHS at least £2.5bn per year. This report explores the profile and experiences of people who frequently attend A&E and considers what needs to be done to ensure that more people can be supported in the community, before they reach a crisis that leads to the door of the emergency department. It shows the clear link between high intensity use and wider inequalities.

• Report
• More detail