Health Management and Policy Alert

Prison mental health: vision and reality

This publication aims to examine what has been achieved in prison mental health over recent years from a number of different personal perspectives and individual observations of working in England. It looks at the specific achievements of inreach teams and of efforts to divert offenders from custody. It also looks more broadly at the rapid growth of the prison population during the same period and the treatment of offenders with mental health problems outside as well as inside prison. (Royal College of Nursing - news)

Improving quality and productivity in the NHS whilst facing the financial pressures

This joint statement from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Healthcare Financial Management Association and the NHS Confederation outlines their views about how NHS organisations across the UK can drive quality and productivity whilst facing financial pressures. The statement highlights that it is crucial for the issue to be addressed in ways that are constructive in order to help maintain the gains in quality, access and activity that have already been achieved over the past decade. (Academy of Medical Royal Colleges - news)

Partnerships with local authorities and health agencies

This research provides insight into existing partnership arrangements between local authorities and local health organisations. It also identifies factors that would assist in the development of partnership arrangements with a view to producing a detailed action plan for progressing partnership arrangements with these two key groups of partners. This report presents the key findings and the implications for the Pensions, Disabilities and Carer Service. (Department for Work and Pensions - research)

Transforming community services: transactions guidance for NHS Foundation Trusts

This document provides guidance for NHS foundation trusts, which are undertaking ‘Transforming Community Services’ transactions, on Monitor’s regulatory process for reviewing such transactions. It is largely based on Monitor’s Compliance Framework, to which NHS foundation trusts considering transactions should continue to refer. (Monitor - publications)

£30m funding for children’s palliative care: second round of funding applications

Those organisations that applied for funding through round one have now been notified of the outcome of their application. The second round of funding applications is now underway and closes on Thursday 30^th September. For round two, as with round one, funding for communications activities will be given only a very limited range of circumstances. No communications activities exceeding £25,000 in support of a single project will be funding. Round two will also consider applications from local organisations wanting to host square table discussions, to cover the direct cost of these discussions. Further details on the funding, a template for proposals and frequently asked questions document is also available. (Department of Health - publications)

Efficient use of vaccines

This letter from Jo Yarwood, Acting Head of Immunisation Branch, to SHA and PCT Immunisation leads provides further details about the next stage of the Vaccine Efficiency Savings Programme. (Department of Health - publications)

Quality outcomes for people with dementia: building on the work of the National Dementia Strategy

This document presents the Department’s revised, outcomes focused implementation plan for Living well with dementia: A National Dementia Strategy, which was published in February 2009. It updates the previous implementation plan for the Strategy, which was published in July 2009. The key purpose of this revised implementation plan is to set out for health and social care localities and their delivery partners. (Department of Health - publications)

A study of approaches to develop and support people in public health roles

This study has found that approaches involving members of the public in the delivery of public health programmes can bridge the gap between health services and communities. The results suggest that there needs to be greater recognition of the social skills and life experiences that people bring to health care roles and more investment is needed in support systems to bridge this gap. (National Institute for Health Research - news)

NICE Citizens Council report: the use of incentives to improve health

This report presents the findings from the meeting of the Citizens Council advisory group on incentive systems for unhealthy habits. Attendees at the meeting heard about examples of local incentive schemes which had been piloted and the lessons learned from these pilot schemes. NICE are now inviting comments on this report, comments must be sent in by 5.00pm on 26 November 2010. (NICE - press releases)

Improving end of life care in neurological disease - executive summary

This executive summary outlines the challenges in providing end of life care for patients with neurological diseases alongside the potential ways of improving care in this area. The full framework will be published in November 2010. (End of Life Care Programme - publications)