Health Management and Policy Alert

Parental experience of services for disabled children - qualitative research (phase 2): exploring the findings from the national survey

This research sets out findings from a second phase of qualitative work looking at parental experiences and views of services they use in relation to their disabled child. This work was intended to explore some of the key findings from the survey in more depth by providing evidence to help understand how services can be improved. (Department for Children, Schools and Families - publications)

Integrating care and transforming community services: what works? where next?

This paper follows on from a seminar organised by the Health Services Management Centre earlier this year. It summarises the presentations made at the seminar and considers the implications for policy makers and practitioners, noting the increasing interest in integrated care given the context of an ageing population and the increasing burden of chronic disease. The authors note that while integrated care may not be the only solution, it has an important role to play in ensuring quality and the effective use of resources. (Health Services Management Centre - publications)

Progress on improving maternity services

This letter outlines the Department of Health’s expectations of what the NHS will have achieved in maternity services by the end of 2009. (Department of Health - letters)

National NHS patient survey programme: mental health acute inpatient service users survey 2009

This survey asked people about their experiences of acute inpatient mental health services along the pathway from admission to leaving hospital. It reveals that a proportion felt let down in some important aspects of the care they received. (Care Quality Commission - publications)

NHS machines: utilisation of high-value equipment at NHS trusts

This report provides evidence that many NHS Trusts are not adequately utilising expensive treatment and diagnostic equipment. It demonstrates that there is potential to increase the efficiency of many NHS Trusts to improve service to patients and value for taxpayers. (The Taxpayers’ Alliance - publications)

How to save £50bn: reducing spending for sustainable public finances

This report sets out the depths of the UK’s fiscal crisis, why public spending needs to be reduced, the consequences that are risked if it is not, and a total of £50 billion of specific suggestions for annual expenditure savings. (Institute of Directors - publications)

The Statement of Financial Entitlements (Amendment) (No.5) Directions 2009

These directions come into force on 1 October 2009 and make three changes to the dispensing provisions in the General Medical Services Statement of Financial Entitlements published in April 2005. (Department of Health - publications)

PACE initiative

As part of the suicide prevention programme, PACE has been commissioned to undertake a review of the range of web-based information, support and advice services available for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) people. This letter provides more information to SHA mental health leads about PACE and the review. (Department of Health - letters)

Authorisation of antiviral medicines: guidance on the use of FP10SS forms and Antiviral Authorisation Vouchers during the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic in England

This guidance document contains useful information on when Antiviral Authorisation Vouchers can be used, how the forms need to be completed, how they can be accessed and re-ordered and other security aspects around handling Antiviral Authorisation Vouchers. (Department of Health - publications)

National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS) casework: the first eight years

Casework processes include routine recording of case characteristics such as grade, specialty, age, gender, place or qualification and ethnicity. Analysis of this data can point to patterns in referrals and may suggest new ways of managing performance concerns. NCAS has published a statistical review of eight years’ casework. (National Patient Safety Agency - publications)