Health Management and Policy Alert

Impact of Quality and Outcomes Framework on health inequalities

The paper draws out the implications of those findings for future development of the Quality and Outcomes Framework and other pay-for performance schemes and concludes that general practice should be supported in its responsibility for improving public health and reducing inequalities.

• Full report
• Summary report
• The King's Fund - publications

 

How is the NHS performing? Quarterly monitoring report

This monitoring report is the first of a regular quarterly review, which will combine publicly available data on selected NHS performance measures with views from a panel of finance directors on the key issues their organisations are facing. The indicators covered in the report include: key performance challenges, workforce and redundancies, and waiting times.

• Quarterly report
• The King's Fund - publications

 

Guidance on the NHS standard contract for care home services 2011/12

This document is the Guidance on the NHS Standard Contract for Care Home Services 2011/12 and should be read in conjunction with the NHS Standard Contract for Care Homes.

• Guidance
• Department of Health - publications

 

Extension of mandatory surveillance to E.coli bloodstream infections, June 2011

The Department of Health is introducing a mandatory requirement for all NHS acute trusts to report E.coli bloodstream infections diagnosed after 1 June 2011. To support organisations in making these returns, Health Protection Agency guidance and information on data input and definitions will be made available in the near future.

• Dear colleague letter
• Department of Health - letters

 

Growing the social investment market: a vision and strategy

This document sets out the Government’s vision of a thriving social investment market where social ventures can access the capital they need to grow. It also sets out a strategy for achieving the vision, explaining how Government and others can act, including the key role of the Big Society Bank as a wholesale investor and champion of the market.

• Report
• Cabinet Office - publications

 

Speaking up for vulnerable adults: what the whistleblowers say

This report examines whistleblowing in the UK care sector. It calls for proactive promotion of best practice in whistleblowing arrangements and the support available for whistleblowers. This includes training and guidance for managers on how to handle concerns, employers providing feedback when responding to concerns, a greater awareness of rights, zero tolerance of whistleblower victimisation, and clearer guidance about how and when to approach relevant authorities.

• Report
• Public Concern at Work - press release

 

Medical Technologies Evaluation Programme process guide and methods guide

This work programme focuses specifically on helping enable new medical technologies, or important modifications to existing ones, to be used more quickly and consistently in the NHS. The process and methods guides explain how evaluations will work, and will be of particular interest to manufacturers considering notifying their device or diagnostic to the programme.

• Process and methods guides
• NICE - press release

 

Consultation on community service governance indicators and quality governance assessments in transactions

The consultation also includes questions about including, on a proportionate basis, the Quality Governance Framework into Monitor’s review of transactions.

• Consultation
• Response form
• Monitor - consultations

 

Facing the future: standards for paediatric services

This report outlines how under-investment and an increase in demand for children’s hospital services have created huge pressure across paediatric care, resulting in many NHS services operating with dangerously low levels of staff and trainee doctors left to manage wards due to a shortage in senior level consultants posts. It warns that regardless of the outcome of the current Health Bill, an extensive ‘re-design’ of children’s health care is now necessary to safe-guard positive health outcomes for children.

• Report
• Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health - news

 

More for less 2009/10: are efficiency and productivity improving in the NHS?

The Audit Commission has produced a number of reports, analyses and updates, as part of the ‘More for Less’ series, looking at how NHS money has been spent, whether primary care trusts have been successful in keeping more patients out of hospital, and whether hospitals have become more efficient.

• More for less 2009/10: further analysis on income from tariff and non-tariff sources
• More for less 2009/10: are efficiency and productivity improving the NHS?
• Audit Commission - publications