Health Management and Policy Alert

Realising the benefits? Assessing the implementation of Agenda for Change

The King's Fund has published the first independent report on the impact of Agenda for Change, the new pay system affecting over 1 million nurses and other NHS staff, which was rolled out nationally in December 2004. The report is based on case studies of 10 NHS trusts and interviews with officials, union representatives and managers at national and SHA level, as well as with NHS employers and unions. While it does not purport to be a comprehensive analysis of Agenda for Change, it provides an insight into the impact of the key pay reform to date. (King's Fund - press release) [BBC Health - news]

The Mental Health Act 2007: NHS Confederation briefing

This briefing summarises the key points of the new Act and the implications for mental health and other NHS trusts. (NHS Confederation - publications)

No voice, no choice: a joint review of adult mental health services in England

The Healthcare Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection have published their national review of adult specialist community mental health services. The findings show that, since the introduction of the National Service Framework for mental health, there has been a steady improvement in the range and quality of such services for those who need them and Local Implementation Teams appear to be an effective vehicle for commissioning and delivering new models of community mental health. However, the pace of change and improvement has been variable, leaving some people with little or no access to care and treatment.
(Healthcare Commission - press release)

2006/07 UK general practice workload survey

This paper presents the results of the general practice workload survey 2006/7, which is the first under the new contract. The survey was targeted at work in the practice and excludes work done elsewhere as well as any work identified as out-of-hours not relating to the GMS/PMS/ PCTMS practice contract. The Information Centre has also published data on GP registered populations and a report on GP earnings and expenses 2004/5.
(Information Centre - summary) [BBC Health - news] [BMA - press release]

How to achieve effective clinical engagement and leadership when working across organisational boundaries – practical recommendations

Published by the Modernisation Initiative, this practical guide aims to pick out the main elements that facilitate clinicians to lead change across organisational boundaries, and to offer the basic tools and techniques required whilst exploring how these can be applied. The key findings are:

• Change can be successfully achieved by effective cross-boundary projects and patients benefit 
• Patient and user involvement is crucial to successful cross-boundary working 

These recommendations highlight to policy makers the fundamental components that need to be in place for effective cross-organisational working, partnership and collaborations.
(Modernisation Initiative - publications)

Clinicians need to lead cross-boundary working 

Launch of the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Specialist Library

A comprehensive collection of current knowledge and evidence about patient and public involvement in healthcare is now available in the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Specialist Library run by the King’s Fund for the National Library for Health. (King's Fund - press release)

Healthcare associated infection: what else can the NHS do?

This report has been prepared in response to a request made by the Chief Medical Officer for England, who asked the Healthcare Commission to examine the factors associated with reducing infection rates. In making their declarations for the Healthcare Commission’s annual health check 2006/2007, trusts should already have assessed their compliance with the provisions of the Hygiene Code. The report provides suggestions that may be useful when these assessments are reviewed.The advice is aimed, in particular, at the boards and senior management of NHS trusts.It does not, however, impose any new duties or requirements on trusts.  (Healthcare Commission - news) [DH - press release] [DH - letters]

Safer care for the acutely ill patient: learning from serious incidents

This report is an analysis of incident reports on 107 patients whose deaths in acute hospitals were reported to the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) because of concerns about the safety of their care. The report – the fifth from the NPSA’s Patient Safety Observatory – also provides examples of good practice and resources to support the safer care of patients within hospitals. (NPSA - news)

Acutely ill patients in hospital: recognition of and response to acute illness in adults in hospital

This NICE clinical guideline describes how patients in acute hospitals should be monitored to help identify those whose health becomes worse and how they should be cared for if this happens. It covers all adult patients in hospital, including patients in the emergency department being admitted to hospital and those being moved between departments. (NICE - clinical guidelines)

Surgery for children: delivering a first class service

The Children's Surgical Forum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSENG) has published a report on surgery for children. It argues that there are major challenges facing surgical care for children and sets out key recommendations for improvement in each surgical specialty. It provides a guide on standards for those responsible for delivering surgical care to children together with information on safe models of care and service development. (RCSENG - news)