Health Management and Policy Alert

GMS contract changes 2015-16

NHS Employers - 
The changes to the GMS contract for 2015-16 have been announced and the focus of the changes is on a named, accountable GP for all patients, publication of GPs' average net earnings and commitment to expand and improve the provision of online services.

• Summary of contract changes
• NHS Employers news

Focus on: allied health professionals (AHPs) - can we measure quality of care?

The Nuffield Trust - 
This report reveals that AHPs are a growing part of the NHS workforce, accounting for over £2bn of the salary bill, yet there is little data on the contribution they make to the quality of patient care. It examines the role of AHPs in the NHS, private and voluntary sector and finds that there has been a significant increase in the numbers of AHPs, with numbers of registered practitioners rising by 53% since 2002, and NHS-based practitioners rising by a third.

• Report
• Press release

Co-ordinated care survey findings

Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) - 
This report details the results of a survey of RCS members and patients looking into the coordination of care including discharge processes and re-admission for surgical patients in England and Wales. Overall, the results showed that discharge from hospital is an area of particular concern with only one quarter of those surveyed agreeing that there is a thorough coordinated discharge process in place to enable effective transfer of care from the hospital environment. It makes a number of recommendations for where the integration of care for patients can be improved including calling for greater discharge planning to take place from the outset, more information to be available to patients and carers, and greater communication between professionals and services.

• Report
• Press release

Review body on doctors’ and dentists’ remuneration (DDRB) review for 2015: written evidence from the Department of Health

These documents are produced annually and provide evidence from the Department of Health to the review body on DDRB and the NHS Pay Review Body (NHS PRB). Pay raises for doctors and dentists who work for the NHS are determined by the government in light of recommendations made by the DDRB. Pay raises for NHS staff on Agenda for Change pay, terms and conditions are determined in the light of the recommendations of the NHS PRB. Both of these independent review bodies take evidence from the four UK governments, trades unions and NHS employers before making their recommendations.

• Evidence
• DH news

Exploring the cost of care at the end of life

Nuffield Trust -
This analysis estimates the hospital and non-hospital costs for people in the last 90 days of life. It also explores whether reduced hospital activity and costs at the end of life were likely to be offset by increased care costs in other health and social care settings using the Marie Curie home-based palliative care nursing service. The results suggest that cost savings might be available if community-based support were made more widely available to help people to die in their own homes, where that was their preference.

• Research report
• Nuffield Trust - press release

Transforming mental health: a plan of action for London

The King's Fund -
This report describes a vision for the future of mental health provision in London, generated through a process of engagement with key stakeholders in the capital. The vision is based on a collaborative, integrated approach towards mental health that is relevant in London and elsewhere.

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

Marmot indicators 2014

UCL Institute of Health Equity - 
These key indicators aim to help local authorities monitor health inequalities and social determinants of health. Originally published in 2011, they have been updated to account for the coalition government's policy changes. The updated indicators highlight children's development, living standards and income as areas of concern for health equity. Included alongside the updated indicators is data for each local authority tracking their progress against the indicators.

• Indicators
• Profiles
• Press release

The state of health

Incisive Health - 
This briefing outlines the results of a poll on public attitudes towards the NHS, in the run up towards the general election in 2015. It sets out the state of health and the questions that politicians will need to answer between now and May.

• Briefing
• Incisive Health blog

National Conversation on health inequalities event report: 25 June 2014

Public Health England (PHE) - 
This report presents a summary of discussions and a brief synopsis of sessions of the National Conversation on health inequalities event on 25 June 2014.

• Report
• PHE news

Emergency surgery policy briefing

Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) - 
This briefing sets out the main challenges facing emergency surgery, and the high-level actions the Government and other policy-makers can take to support patients who require emergency surgical care. It highlights concerns about variations in mortality rates following emergency surgery and argues for clearer protocols and standards on how patients undergoing emergency surgery should be treated and for the NHS to measure outcomes for patients much more rigorously by publishing audits.

• Briefing
• Press release