Health Management and Policy Alert

Commission impossible? Shaping places through strategic commissioning

This report describes how councils can deliver better public services by shifting towards a more ‘strategic commissioning’  approach. It draws upon the findings of a recent survey of over 100 council leaders and chief executives showing that 4 in 5 councils across England are considering taking a greater strategic commissioning role in the delivery of local public services in the near future, including health services. It offers a series of recommendations for central and local government.

• Report
• Localis - news

The influence of health services research on the NHS

This briefing covers some issues that challenge NHS clinicians and managers, such as patient safety and cost cutting, and looks at where health services research has addressed them.

• Briefing
• NHS Confederation - publications

Health and Social Care Bill: briefing for the House of Lords (second reading)

This briefing looks at the aspects of the Bill appropriate to child health and protection services and makes recommendations.

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

Consultation on developing integrated care

The Royal College of General Practitioners is consulting on what integration means for general practice and GPs in order to develop a policy that can guide decision making and service design. The deadline for responses is 5pm on Friday 4 November 2011.

• Consultation document
• Survey
• Other consultation documents
• Royal College of General Practitioners - press release

The governance of adult safeguarding: findings from research into Safeguarding Adults Boards

The research for this report explored the governance arrangements for safeguarding adults. Drawing on a systematic review of the literature, workshops attended by safeguarding specialists, a survey of Safeguarding Adults Boards’ documentation, key informant interviews and data from regional and national safeguarding work programmes, the findings focus on five key features of Safeguarding Adults Boards.

• Report
• Social Care Institute for Excellence - reports

Self-neglect and adult safeguarding: findings from research

This research comprised a scoping study of the concept of self-neglect as defined in the literature and interpreted in adult safeguarding practice. The report draws on a systematic review of the literature, workshops with senior managers and practitioners in specialist safeguarding roles, a focus group with adult social care practitioners and interviews with key informants.

• Report
• Social Care Institute for Excellence - reports

User involvement in adult safeguarding

This report is about involving people who use services in adult safeguarding. It looks at policies and practice, as well as examples of how user involvement is being supported, barriers to greater user involvement, and lessons learned from evaluating adult safeguarding processes.

• Report
• Social Care Institute for Excellence - reports

Second statement of new regulation (SNR2)

The Government is committed to producing twice yearly statements on new regulations that impact business and civil society organisations. This is the Department of Health’s second statement covering the period 1 July – 31 December 2011.

• Statement
• Department of Health - publications

End of life care strategy: third annual report

The end of life care strategy was published in July 2008. This is the third annual report on progress in delivering the strategy.

• Report
• Department of Health - publications

Seasonal flu immunisation programme 2011/12 – Viroflu vaccine and risk of fever in children under five years

This letter from Professor D M Salisbury, Director of Immunisation, provides advice to avoid use of Viroflu vaccine in children aged under five years because of an increased risk of fever.

• Letter
• Department of Health - letters