Health Management and Policy Alert

Seasonal flu plan: winter 2011/12

This plan sets out a coordinated and evidence based approach to planning for and responding to the demands of seasonal flu across England. It will provide the public and healthcare professionals with an overview of coordination of preparation for seasonal flu and signposts where further guidance and information can be found.

• Plan
• Department of Health - publications

The seasonal influenza immunisation programme. Consultation: a review of the procurement of seasonal vaccine

The Government is considering the introduction of central procurement of seasonal vaccine. The consultation seeks views on these proposals. The closing date for comments is 17 August 2011.

• Consultation
• Impact assessment
• Professional letter - The seasonal flu immunisation programme 2011/12
• Department of Health - consultations

Heatwave plan for England: protecting health and reducing harm from extreme heat and heatwaves

This plan has been re-issued as a part of raising both public and professional awareness. The plan's purpose is to enhance resilience in the event of a heatwave and is an important component of overall emergency planning.

• Plan
• Equality assessment
• Dear colleague letter
• Department of Health - publications

A realistic review of clinico-managerial relationships in the NHS: 1991-2010

This report aims to synthesise research published in the 1990s and 2000s into a form that will be useful to managers, clinicians, academics and other stakeholders. It discusses how clinico-managerial relationships have changed over the last twenty years and considers which forms of development and training programmes might best support their improvement.

• Report
• Links to summary report and further information
• Health Services Management Centre - news

Cost-effective commissioning for continence care

This guidance tool is aimed at GP consortia and provides a framework for implementing and monitoring an integrated continence service. It outlines the essential elements needed during each phase of the commissioning cycle.

• Guidance
• All Party Parliamentary Group for Continence Care - news

Dignity and nutrition for older people - reports

The Care Quality Commission has published the first 12 reports from an inspection programme which examines whether elderly people receive essential standards of care in 100 NHS hospitals throughout England. The programme focuses on whether people are treated with dignity and respect, and whether they get food and drink that meets their needs. A national report into the findings of the programme will be published in September. These first 12 inspection reports identify three hospitals as failing to meet the essential standards required by law. Less serious concerns were identified in a further three hospitals, with the remaining six found to be meeting essential standards.

• Reports
• Care Quality Commission - press release

Models of care to achieve better outcomes for children and young people living with and beyond cancer

This publication details the learning and evidence gathered from work around improving the transition care of children and young people who are living with or have survived cancer. NHS Improvement in conjunction with stakeholders within the Children and Young People National Cancer Survivorship Initiative have worked with various test sites to examine current care and find specific ways in which it can be improved. As a result of the initiative, 13 key recommendations have been identified, which will contribute to after-care that is cost-effective and delivered by the appropriate health professionals to ensure the best use of skill mix and resources.

• Report
• NHS Improvement - news

Supporting homeless people with advanced liver disease approaching the end of life

This report presents the findings of a detailed review of the case notes held by St Mungo’s for people affected by advanced liver failure who died between January 2009 and April 2010. Focus group discussions with staff from St Mungo’s were held to explore their experiences of the deaths of residents. The research aimed to identify changes in the general condition or behaviour of homeless people with advanced liver disease that might indicate their health was deteriorating and they could soon be facing death.

• Report
• Marie Curie Cancer Care - projects

Health innovation transfer from South to North

This briefing examines technologies explicitly developed for developing country settings, which then may have an application in the NHS, and looks at the barriers and enablers to adoption. Multiple methods were used including a literature review and case studies involving document reviews, key informant interviews and a survey. It found several sets of factors that are key to adoption and concludes that further research is needed to understand how generalised these findings can be, and to ascertain whether a ‘reverse innovation' trend is emerging.

• Report
• RAND Corporation - publications

Measuring value: pharmacoeconomics in theory and practice

In this paper, the authors outline the evolution of cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) through its use as part of health technology assessment. They also explore the theoretical and practical issues that have arisen as the result of using CEA of drugs to make decisions about resource allocation, pricing and use.

Please note that this is a free publication but registration is required to access it.

• Report - registration page
• Office of Health Economics - news