Health Management and Policy Alert

Making connections with the challenges of unscheduled care

This publication is the result of work with a number of acute hospital sites to understand the complexity of urgent and emergency care attendances, and admissions. It shares the issues, the outcomes and identifies some tried and tested solutions that can ease the burden of unscheduled care.

• Report
• NHS Improvement - publications

Achieving savings from high cost drugs

This report sets out how commissioners and providers of NHS services can work together to achieve savings in the use of high cost drugs. It is intended to support delivery of NHS Constitution obligations and the introduction of the compliance regime for NICE Technology Appraisals.

• Report
• Letter
• Department of Health - news

How to: reduce expenditure on medical locums

This guide is part of a series of how to guides which aims to help promote good practice and offer guidance on a range of workforce practices aimed at achieving workforce productivity efficiencies. It offers practical tips, suggestions and approaches that trusts can use to assess their medical locum use, decrease demand and reduce cost.

• Guidance
• NHS Employers - news

Sandwich caring

'Sandwich caring' or 'dual caring' is where parents combine caring for young children with caring for older or disabled loved ones. This report represents an attempt to better understand the extra pressure these dual caring responsibilities have on modern families and their implications for policy, public services, employers and the labour market.

• Report
• Carers UK - publications

A good death: the role of the local authority in end of life care

In recent years the health sector has taken the lead role in end of life care provision and the engagement of local authorities has been more mixed. However, many local authority services, such as social care and housing, are crucial components when delivering high quality end of life care. This report looks at the role of local authorities in this agenda and how councils can develop their part in this important service provision.

• Report
• LGIU - publications

End of life care facilitator competency framework

This competency framework has been developed to support high quality practice by encouraging and assisting end of life care facilitators to continually review their learning and practice. It provides a basis to support and improve the quality of practice by encouraging and assisting learning, and enhancing knowledge and skills.

• Framework
• NHS National End of Life Care Programme - news

Understanding common induction for social care workers

This resource provides an explanation of the common induction standards. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of what a care or support worker should know and what they should be able to do.

• Guidance
• SCIE - press release

General dental services contracts

These dental contracts have been updated for 2012 and PCTs may want to review existing contracts and agreements in light of any changes.

• Contracts and related documents

A minimum price for alcohol?

This briefing outlines the background information and thinking behind the proposed minimum pricing legislation for alcohol which is currently under consultation.

• Briefing
• House of Commons Library - publications

Alcohol strategy consultation

This consultation seeks views on a number of measures set out in the government's alcohol strategy. It seeks views on five key areas: a ban on multi-buy promotions; a review of mandatory licencing conditions; health as a new licencing objective; cutting red tape for responsible businesses; and minimum unit pricing. The consultation will run for 10 weeks from 28 November 2012 until 6 February 2013.

• Consultation document and supporting documents 
• Online form