Health Management and Policy Alert

Robert Francis inquiry report into Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust

Robert Francis QC has published his inquiry report and related documents into Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.  His inquiry followed concerns about standards of care at the Trust, and an investigation and report published by the Healthcare Commission in March 2009.  Robert Francis has heard evidence from patients, their relatives and staff to inform his report and the 18 recommendations he makes. The Department of Health and the Trust Board has accepted the recommendations of the inquiry in full. A Dear Colleague letter from Sir David Nicholson is also available. (Department of Health - publications)

Protecting the public from unregistered practitioners: tackling misuse of protected title

In this project, the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) have considered the risk to the public presented by those who pass themselves off as registered professionals. They began with a narrow question about the difficulties in title misuse prosecution and developed into a focus on the risk to patient and public safety arising from to title misuse. The final report has now been published. (CHRE - publications)

Productive Ward Evaluation

The Productive Ward Programme, designed by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement in collaboration with the NHS, sets out an innovative and practical way for clinicians and other frontline staff to take the lead in improving ward-based services. This study aims to tell the story of the Productive Ward to date and determine its impact on the NHS. The evaluation will seek to answer why and how the Productive Ward has been so influential and to identify factors that may enhance the benefits of this programme and, more widely, future innovative approaches to service and quality improvement. (King's College London - publications)

Oneplace national overview report

This report looks at the findings from the first year of Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA). It complements local reporting of CAA through the website www.direct.gov.uk/oneplace. It explains what the first year of CAA has shown about how well local public services are delivering national and local priorities and spending £200 billion of public money. It sets out what we know about what helps and hinders improvement in local public services, to guide national and local policymakers. The report also provides information for local leaders and highlights examples of how their peers have overcome some of the common challenges they face. (Audit Commission - publications)

NHS waiting times statistics publications produced by the Department of Health. Response to consultation on proposals to discontinue current data collections on inpatient and outpatient waiting times

This document is a response to a recent consultation on the future of the publication of inpatient and outpatient waiting times statistics. (Department of Health - publications)

Easements to quality and outcomes framework (QOF): patient experience indicators 7 and 8

Dear colleague letter providing advice for PCTs on calculating the easements to the thresholds for QOF indicators PE7 and PE8 contained in the Directions on the swine flu (H1N1) vaccination agreement for clinical priority groups. (Department of Health - publications)

Assuring the Quality of Senior NHS Managers - research report

Following publication of the Next Stage Review report, the Department of Health asked Ian Dalton, Chief Executive of North East Strategic Health Authority, to chair an Advisory Group on Assuring the Quality of Senior NHS Managers. The final report of the Advisory Group and the supporting research report are now available. (Department of Health - publications)

Putting health in the policy picture: review of how health impact assessment is carried out by Government departments

The Department of Health commissioned research into the use of health impact assessment within the Government impact assessment in 2009. The key findings and recommendations have now been published. (Department of Health - publications)

Prioritising need in the context of Putting People First: a whole system approach to eligibility for social care - guidance on eligibility criteria for adult social care, England 2010

This guidance is issued under section 7(1) of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 and replaces previous guidance issued in 2003. This guidance will need to be applied from April 2010. (Department of Health - publications)

Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board end of year progress report

This is the final report to Ministers from the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board, which was instituted in January 2008 to oversee implementation of the Nutrition Action Plan. The Government's response  is also available. (Department of Health - publications)