Health Management and Policy Alert

Building Britain’s future

This paper outlines the action that the UK Government is taking to move the UK from recession to recovery and forge a new model of economic growth; restore trust and accountability to the political system; and modernise public services and national infrastructure. Chapter four covers the rebuilding of public services, including health services. (HM Government – Building Britain's future website)

High quality care for all: our journey so far

This report examines the progress that has been made since High Quality Care for All was published a year ago. Lord Darzi has found that there has been progress across each dimension of quality - patient experience, patient safety and clinical effectiveness. Major improvements highlighted in the report include the opening of 50 new GP led health centres, the introduction of personal care plan for 9.3 million patients with long term conditions and the growth in keyhole surgery. It also reports that focus on quality has moved up the agenda for staff and organisations, supported by the promotion of innovation through the introduction of tools and funds such as NHS Evidence, the Innovation Fund and the Challenge Prizes. Further plans to drive up the quality agenda even further are outlined. (Department of Health - publications) [Introductory letter from Professor Sir Ara Darzi]

Working together to provide age-appropriate environments and services for mental health patients aged under 18

This briefing has been written to support commissioners of both adult mental health services and child and adolescent mental health services to prepare to meet the requirements of a new duty within the Mental Health Act 2007, amending the 1983 Act, to admit and treat patients aged under 18 into an environment in hospital which is suitable having regard to their age. The Government has committed to commencing this duty in April 2010, with the purpose of preventing the inappropriate admission of children and young people to adult psychiatric wards. (National Mental Health Development Unit - publications)

Appeals procedure for apportioning of MRSA bacteraemias

This letter outlines the modifications that the Department of Health (DH) and the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have made to the procedure for reviewing non-trajectory submissions. The modifications are designed to improve the efficiency of the programme and to clearly delineate the roles and administrative responsibilities of the DH and the HPA respectively. (Department of Health - letters)

Agency workers directive - online survey

The European Parliament and Member States voted in December 2008 to adopt a directive on temporary agency work which will see agency workers in the UK receive "equal treatment" compared to permanent staff after being employed for 12 weeks. In May 2009 the Department for Business Innovation and Skills launched a UK government consultation paper on the terms of the directive. NHS Employers will be providing a collective response to the consultation and are asking for views to feed into their response. Responses can be submitted by completing the questionnaire before 17 July 2009. (NHS Employers - news)

General Practice Patient Survey 2008-09 national results

The results of the 2008-09 GP Patient Survey have been published. The survey found that the most important factors in patients' satisfaction are being given enough time with a GP and feeling that their problems are taken seriously. The survey was carried out between January and April 2009 and results are reported on a website which also links to data from previous surveys. (Department of Health - press releases)

Moving on up

This report from the Mental Health Foundation reveals the barriers that are preventing patients with mild or moderate depression from accessing exercise on prescription. They include funding constraints within local government and PCTs, and that many GPs aren't aware that exercise schemes are available in their area. (Mental Health Foundation - publications) [BBC Health - news]

End of Life Care Strategy: quality markers and measures for end of life care

The End of Life Care Strategy was published in July 2008 and included a commitment to publish quality markers for end of life care. During its development, the SHA End of Life Care Pathway Chairs identified that commissioners and providers needed support in delivering improvements in care. The resultant quality markers contained in this document are intended to meet this need. (Department of Health - publications)

National Benchmarker re-released with HRG4 data

The Audit Commission, supported by the NHS Information Centre, has released a new set of benchmarking data to assist the NHS with the introduction of healthcare resource group (HRG) 4. As well as updating the existing indicators, some new HRG4-specific indicators have been developed. The data is for use by PCTs, NHS trusts, hospital departments and individual clinicians to compare acute hospital activity data, clinical coding and payment by results related data with other organisations to flag up questions for concern. (Audit Commission - news)

Health profiles 2009

Health profiles provides a snapshot of health for each local council in England using key health indicators, enabling comparison locally, regionally and over time. They are designed to help local councils and the NHS decide where to target resources and tackle health inequalities in their local area. The 2009 version has now been published. (Department of Health - press releases)