Health Management and Policy Alert

A plan for public procurement: food & catering - balanced scorecard for public food procurement

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) -
This scorecard aims to help those those buying food or catering services for the public sector to evaluate a variety of criteria when making decisions about purchases. It shows how straightforward criteria, such as cost, can be ‘balanced’ against more complex criteria, including: sustainability in production, health and nutrition, resource efficiency, social–economic value and quality of service.

• Balanced scorecard
• DEFRA - publications

Evaluating the Care Quality Commission's acute hospital regulatory model: final report

Care Quality Commission (CQC) -
This report, by researchers from Manchester Business School and The King's Fund, evaluates the first two waves of new style hospital inspections, covering inspections carried out in 18 hospital trusts between September 2013 and April 2014. The authors found that the new approach commands strong credibility, in particular through the use of specialists to inform assessments, and the granular detail of ratings within services rather than at provider level.

• Report
• The King's Fund - blogs
• CQC - news

Facilitating technology adoption in the NHS: negotiating the organisational and policy context - a qualitative study

NHS National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) -
This study investigated the organisational and policy context for the adoption and implementation of clinical technologies, because this context may present barriers that slow – or even prevent – uptake. The research focused on three clinical technologies: insulin pump therapy; breast lymph node assay, a diagnostic tool for metastases; and ultrawide field retinal imaging.

• Full report
• Plain English summary report
• Scientific summary
• NIHR - publications

The General Medical Council (GMC) and Professional Standards Authority (PSA): proposed changes to modernise and reform the adjudication of fitness to practise cases

Department of Health -
The GMC is responsible for regulating doctors and the PSA oversees the regulation of all healthcare professionals, protecting the health and safety of the public by ensuring fitness to practise. This consultation is seeking views on proposed changes to the way each body carries out its regulatory functions. Comments must be submitted by 25 September 2014.

• Consultation document
• Department of Health - consultations

The performers lists and suspension: a paper for consultation

Department of Health -
This consultation seeks views on proposed changes to how NHS England should respond when practitioners are suspended by an interim suspension order. The regulator may issue an interim suspension order when there is a concern about a practitioner. The closing date for comments is 25 September 2014.

• Consultation document
• Annex A: draft regulations
• Department of Health - consultations

Childhood allergies

Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology (POST) -
In the UK, 40-50% of children have at least one diagnosed allergy, negatively impacting affected children’s quality of life and putting pressure on health services. This note discusses the causes and extent of allergic disease in childhood, examines the links between allergy, genetics and the environment and summarises current research.

• Briefing
• POST - publications

Big data and public health

Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology (POST) -
Patient health records and other large scale medical and administrative datasets are increasingly being considered as a valuable tool for the study and improvement of health. This POSTnote examines the sources of data, their current and potential uses for health improvement, and the legal and practical issues raised by data use for public health or research purposes.

• Briefing
• POST - publications

Consultation on funding formulae for implementation of the Care Act in 2015/16

Department of Health -
As part of the Care Act 2014 local authorities will be granted new duties. This consultation seeks views on how funding for the new adult social care duties will be allocated between local authorities in financial year 2015 to 2016. The consultation is mainly aimed at local authorities, but responses from care providers, people with care and support needs, and their carers are also welcome.

• Consultation
• Department of Health - consultations

The Care Act and the care market: conference summary

The Strategic Society Centre -
The Care Bill passed into law as the Care Act in May 2014. During the process toward becoming the Care Act, a number of stakeholders flagged potential uncertainties and risks around how implementation of the Act will affect the operation of England’s residential care market. During May 2014, Independent Age and the Strategic Society Centre convened a summit for residential care providers, local authorities, civil servants, academic researchers and social care campaigners. The event examined current issues in England’s residential care market, and considered potential scenarios following the changes due to be implemented under the Care Act in April 2016. This document summarises some of the key themes and insights from this conference.

• Report
• The Strategic Society Centre - news

Engaging in global health: the framework for voluntary engagement in global health by the UK health sector

Department of Health -
This report provides information and advice to those working in the health sector about the opportunities and benefits of international volunteering. The information is aimed at health employees, employers and health organisations.

• Report
• Department of Health - publications