Health Management and Policy Alert

National Diabetes Audit 2005/6

The National Diabetes Audit, carried out on behalf of the Healthcare Commission by The Information Centre for health and social care, is an ongoing audit designed to monitor care and assure consistent quality in services for people with diabetes across the country. (Healthcare Commission - news)

Mental health: draft revised Code of Practice and secondary legislation

The DH is consulting on the draft revised Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice and draft secondary legislation under the Mental Health Act 2007 (the 2007 Act). This consultation is relevant to all NHS and social care managers and professional staff with responsibility for services for people with mental health problems. The consultations close on Thursday 24 January 2008. (DH - consultations)

Care provided by generalists at the end of life: scoping exercise on research priorities

This research summary presents an overview of the findings from a scoping exercise (a literature review and a consultation exercise) to identify the current evidence base and priorities for further research to improve understanding of generalist care at the end of life. The project was commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research Service Delivery and Organisation Programme (SDO) and led by Professor Irene Higginson at King’s College London. (SDO - research summaries)

Prison health performance indicators

In conjunction with the key stakeholders, the Offender Health (formerly prison health) team has developed a set of voluntary indicators specifically to measure the quality of prison health services and to help achieve the objective of NHS-equivalent standards. The data is collected on a voluntary basis, collated and reported nationally, and is intended to support and inform existing local performance management processes. The Offender Health team has also written a guidance booklet and a covering letter which sets out the rationale for collecting the data. (DH - publications)

National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group Annual Report 2006/07

This is the eleventh annual report of the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group. It sets out the key developments and achievements of nationally designated services during 2006/7.
(DH - publications)

NHS Statistics

Inpatient and Outpatient waiting times

Review of the NHS Financial Year 2006/07

NHS finances have improved markedly, moving from deficit to surplus, according to the Audit Commission's Review of the NHS Financial Year 2006/07.

However, nearly a third of NHS bodies are still in poor financial health.

Auditors assessed NHS trusts and primary care trusts across England on how well they manage taxpayers' money. In general, they found that the steps taken by the Department of Health and by NHS bodies to return the NHS to financial balance were successful. However, regional variations remain. Rating the trusts on a scale from 1-4 on how well they use NHS resources, auditors found that:

• 27 per cent of trusts and PCTs (91) were in the top two categories, performing well or strongly, in their use of resources (compared with 12 per cent in 2005/06);
• 31 per cent of NHS trusts and PCTs (104) scored 1 out of 4, failing to meet minimum requirements (compared with 39 per cent last year); and
• 8 per cent of trusts and PCTs (27) not only scored 1 overall for use of resources, but also failed across all three key areas: financial management, financial standing and value for money.

A summary is also available.

(Audit Commission - press release) [BBC Health - news]

Report of the High Level Group on Clinical Effectiveness

This report outlines the scope for improving clinical effectiveness in the NHS and makes recommendations for future action. The High Level Group (HLG) included members from key bodies such as NICE and the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, as well as individuals working in the field of clinical effectiveness and public health.

• aligning national activities and support
• promoting local ownership
• ensuring clinical engagement
• harnessing the capacities of academia
• the research agenda.

The HLG found that much work is already being undertaken by a range of organisations and some good examples in local organisations. It also found that there is no ‘single bullet’ to address the issue of clinical effectiveness. The report makes a number of recommendations on:

(DH - publications)

Health Profile of England 2007

The Health Profile of England (HPoE) provides national and regional data, which local areas can compare against their own Health Profiles. There is also a section on international comparisons. The HPoE is intended to be of use to public service professionals and officials within the local community - such as local councillors and primary care trust directors of public health - who are in a position to exert influence over the planning, commissioning, procurement and delivery of public health programmes. (DH - statistics)

Shifting Care Closer to Home demonstration sites - report of the speciality subgroups

These findings of six speciality sub-groups offer front-line experience and evidence of shifting services to community settings. Written by clinicians, these reports provide a basis for discussions with colleagues in the NHS about how to make care closer to home a reality. A full report is also available.

(DH - publications)