Health Management and Policy Alert

Patient suicide: the impact of service changes

National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness -
This report argues that mental health service providers looking after patients at risk of suicide need to reduce absconding on in-patient wards and boost specialist community services like crisis resolution to reduce deaths.

• Report
• National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness - press release

A fresh start for the regulation and inspection of mental health services

Care Quality Commission (CQC) -
This document outlines the new approach that CQC will be taking to the inspection of mental health services. The updated inspections will put a greater emphasis on inspecting the care that people with mental health problems receive in the community.

• Guidance
• CQC - news

Reducing violence and aggression in A&E: through a better experience

Design Council -
This report provides evidence that accident & emergency departments could improve patient experience, increase staff wellbeing and save money by implementing a new, proven design solution created by studio PearsonLloyd. The two-pronged solution called ‘A Better A&E’ incorporates a ‘Guidance Solution’ - signage to guide and reassure patients, and a ‘People Solution’ - a programme to support staff in their interactions with frustrated, aggressive and sometimes violent patients through communications training and reflective practices.

• Report
• A Better A&E website
• Design Council - press release

Community engagement to reduce inequalities in health: a systematic review, meta-analysis and economic analysis

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) -
This systematic review examines the evidence on whether community engagement helps to reduce health inequalitie.s The aim of the study was to identify theoretical models underpinning ommunity engagement; to explore mechanisms and contexts through which communities are engaged; to identify community engagement approaches that are effective in reducing health inequalities, under what circumstances and for whom; and to determine the processes and costs associated with their implementation.

• Paper
• NIHR - publications

Polypharmacy and medicines optimisation: making it safe and sound

The King's Fund -
Polypharmacy – the concurrent use of multiple medications by one individual – is an increasingly common phenomenon that demands attention at clinical policy and practice level. Driven by the growth of an ageing population and the rising prevalence of multi-morbidity, polypharmacy has previously been considered something to avoid. It is now recognised as having both positive and negative potential, depending on how medicines and care are managed. This report offers the terms ‘appropriate’ and ‘problematic’ polypharmacy to help define when polypharmacy can be beneficial. It traces the occurrence of polypharmacy in primary and secondary care, and in care homes. It also explores systems for managing polypharmacy and considers it in the context of multi-morbidity and older people, offering recommendations for improving care in both cases.

• Report
• The King's Fund - blogs
• The King's Fund - publications

Lords stages of the Care Bill: health provisions

House of Commons Library -
This note provides an overview of the health provisions in Parts 2 and 3 of the Care Bill, including developments during the Bill’s Committee and Report Stages in the Lords. It is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to provide a summary of the most important amendments made.

• Briefing note
• House of Commons Library - publications

Dementia care and support

Department of Health -
This report sets out what is known about dementia care, support and research. It highlights where improvements are being made and where progress can be seen – it also shows where improvements are needed, including where better data is necessary.

• Report
• Department of Health - publications

Learning disabilities: good practice project

Department of Health -
This report gives people who commission, design and deliver services a better understanding of how to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities.

• Report
• Department of Health - publications

Black and minority ethnic communities and dementia: where are we now?

Better Health -
This briefing looks at developments in the UK since the launch of the National Dementia Strategy in 2009.  It considers the extent to which the Strategy is addressing the information, support and care needs of those in black and minority ethnic communities and ensuring that they are supported in 'living well’ with dementia.

• Briefing
• Better Health - publications

Euro health consumer index 2013

Health Consumer Powerhouse -
This is the seventh study made on European healthcare systems, aiming to highlight weak and strong aspects of healthcare. The results indicate that actual treatment results in European healthcare keep  improving in the face of financial crises and austerity measures, as do patient rights and information to patients. The area, where effects of money saving are most obvious, is on the introduction and deployment rate of novel pharmaceuticals.

• Report
• Health Consumer Powerhouse - publications
• Health Consumer Powerhouse - press release