Health Management and Policy Alert

Research on eliminating age discrimination in social services and mental health services

 

The DH commissioned two literature reviews and two research studies on the costs and benefits of eliminating age discrimination in the provision of health and social care. This was to inform decisions on whether to pursue legislation to outlaw discrimination in the provision of health and social services:

• A literature review of the likely costs and benefits of legislation to prohibit age discrimination in health, social care and mental health services and definitions of age discrimination that might be operationalised for measurement (Centre for Policy on Ageing) [Link to full text]
• Cost-effectiveness analysis and ageism: a review of the theoretical literature (University of Leeds, Leeds Institute of Health Services) [Link to full text] 
• Age discrimination in mental health services: London School of Economics (Personal Social Services Research Unit), University of Wales, Swansea (Centre for Social Carework Research) and King’s College London (Centre for the Economics of Mental Health) [awaiting publication]
• The costs of addressing age discrimination in social care (University of Kent, Personal Social Services Research Unit) [Link to full text]

(DH - publications)

Improving health: changing behaviour: NHS health trainer handbook

This handbook is to support health trainers in facilitating behaviour change. The role of the Health Trainer is new within the NHS. The Health Trainer will use techniques based on psychological evidence and theories to help people change behaviours that are known to cause ill-health. (DH - publications)

The dementia tax: charging people with dementia for inadequate care: the evidence for change

This report has been published by the Alzheimer’s Society. It draws on the experience of over 2,300 people with dementia and carers across England. It explains what care people are receiving, what they are contributing towards the costs of care, and makes recommendations for the future. The intention of the report and its findings is to inform the debate in England on developing a new system for adult social care funding. A summary of the findings of the report is available. (Alzheimer's Society - press release) [BBC News - Health]

Progress with FESC

This Dear colleague letter is to inform PCT chief executives of revised FESC (Framework for procuring external support for commissioners) governance requirements for PCTs to follow, giving a streamlined procurement timetable. The commercial and technical support role will increasingly move from the DH to the SHA. To assist this, FESC awareness sessions and workshops are being arranged through SHAs. (DH - Dear colleague letters)

Career planning in a changing landscape: do nurses need support?

This briefing from the National Nursing Research Unit at King's College London, considers challenges in developing career planning support programmes. It draws on evidence from the Unit's cohort studies of nurses' careers. (National Nursing Research Unit - Policy+ Issue 10)

 

NHS Statistics

Staff earnings Jan - Mar 2008

Inpatient and outpatient waiting time figures, 31 May 2008

Referral to Treatment times data, April 2008

60 years of research in the NHS benefiting patients

The Department of Health has published a report to commemorate 60 years of NHS research. The report outlines some of the major advances in medical knowledge, research, treatment and patient care that have marked the first 60 years of the NHS.

(DH press release)

Health profiles for England and Health inequalities intervention tool

Health profiles for every local authority and region across England were published today by the Department of Health and the Association of Public Health Observatories. The profiles use key health indicators to capture a picture of the nation's health down to local level, providing areas across England with valuable information to improve their population's health. This year's data also includes new information on child health inequalities. The Health inequalities intervention tool was launched with Health inequalities: progress and next steps. The tool is designed to help primary care trusts, practice-based commissioners and local authorities to implement simple, effective, evidence-based measures to affect the life expectancy gap of their local populations. It can be used as part of a comprehensive local strategy to reduce health inequalities.

(DH press release) [BBC news]

PCT survey: provision of IVF in England 2007

This survey was carried out in autumn 2007 and will be used as a basis for monitoring IVF provision. Overall, there is a move towards the implementation of the NICE guideline, though there remain variations in access criteria. To help move to more equitable provision, the Government has established an expert group on commissioning NHS infertility provision, which will

• identify the barriers to the NHS progressing to the implementation of the NICE fertility guideline, taking account of the current variation in provision of IVF and ICSI between PCTs, the current variation in access criteria and the intermittent suspension of services in some locations 
• identify and bring about the tools which will help PCT commissioners in making decisions on fertility provision and encourage stepwise progress towards the full implementation of the NICE fertility guideline 

The expert group will support the work being carried out by Infertility Network UK, which will identify and disseminate good practice in the provision of fertility services.
(DH Publications)

Putting people first: working to make it happen: adult social care workforce strategy: interim statement

This interim statement identifies the key issues for the workforce as set out in Putting people first and goes on to develop these into broader, strategic priorities for the workforce. It is intended to provide all stakeholders, whether public service or private and voluntary sector, with a high-level overview of strategy development prior to finalisation of the full Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy for launch in October this year.

(DH Publications)