Health Management and Policy Alert

Local authority public health allocations 2015/16: in-year savings

Department of Health (DH) - 
As part of wider government action on deficit reduction, the Department of Health (DH) has been asked to deliver savings of £200 million in the financial year 2015 to 2016 through reductions to the Public Health Grant to local authorities (LAs). This consultation sets out possible options on how the £200 million savings might be spread across LAs and asks 3 questions on how they can be delivered most fairly and effectively. This consultation closes on 28 August 2015.

• Consultation
• Response form
• DH consultations

The Health and Social Care Act 2008: code of practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance

Department of Health (DH) - 
This revised version of the code of practice replaces the edition published in 2010 and applies to NHS bodies and providers of independent healthcare and adult social care in England, including primary dental care, independent sector ambulance providers and primary medical care providers. It now reflects the changes required to meet the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and the role of infection prevention (including cleanliness) in optimising antimicrobial use and reducing antimicrobial resistance.

• Guidance
• Original consultation
• DH news

Route map review of system progress

Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) -
The SDU are undertaking a review of system progress on sustainable development within the health and care system, linked to the route map framework. Answers will help the SDU in developing the Health check 2016 document, due to be published in January 2016. This will look at system progress and identify areas for improvement to help progress sustainable development across the sector.

• Survey
• SDU - news

Care of the dying adult: draft guideline for consultation

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) -
This guideline applies to all adults who are potentially entering the last days of their lives in any setting that is covered by NHS services. It includes those who may be dying from chronic diseases and it also includes people who have deteriorated after a subacute event such as a stroke, subarachnoid haemorrhage or myocardial infarction. It would not apply to people who are near to death within hours of major trauma or attempted suicide. The consultation closes on 9 September 2015.

• Draft guideline
• Appendices
• NICE - consultations

Supporting people with a learning disability and/or autism who have a mental health condition or display behaviour that challenges

NHS England -
This draft national framework designed to improve the care of people with learning disabilities, shifting services away from hospital care and towards community-based settings. It sets out nine overarching principles which define what ‘good’ services for people with learning disabilities and/or autism whose behaviour challenges should look like.

• Draft guidelines
• NHS England - news

Patient safety implications of general practice workload

Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) -
This paper explores the patient safety implications of high workloads in general practice. It makes proposals for protecting the wellbeing of GPs to prevent them becoming too exhausted to provide safe care to their patients. The RCGP is asking for the views of patients, GPs, other health professionals and policy makers on how we can tackle this growing problem. Feedback should be sent via 25 August 2015.

• Discussion paper
• RCGP - news

The future of primary care: creating teams for tomorrow

Health Education England - 
The Secretary of State for Health commissioned Health Education England to establish the Independent Primary Care Workforce Commission. Through a literature review, call for evidence, site visits and panel meetings, the Commission wanted to identify and highlight innovative models of primary care that will meet the future needs of patients and the NHS. The accompanying literature review, carried out by RAND Europe, presents a brief overview of reports from professional bodies and policy-focused organisations – from England and internationally – that describe new models for delivering primary care. In addition, this review presents some examples of communication/information technology used in primary care and discuss recruitment and retention challenges facing health professionals in general practice.

• Report
• Literature review
• HEE publications

Review of the infection prevention and control nurse workforce

Centre for Workforce Intelligence (CfWI) - 
Commissioned by Public Health England in partnership with Health Education England and the Department of Health, this report aims to build a clearer understanding of the location, number, functions, skills and competences of the infection prevention and control (IPC) nursing workforce.

• Report
• Press release

Dementia: statistics on prevalence and improving diagnosis, care and research

House of Commons Library -
This briefing outlines government, NHS and other statutory bodies’ work to improve dementia diagnosis, care and support and research. It also provides statistics on rates and expected rises of dementia prevalence, including prevalence rates for each English parliamentary constituency.

• Briefing
• Commons Library publications

Care Act phase two reforms

Local Government Association (LGA) - 
This briefing outlines the LGA's position and response to the delay of the implementation of the care cap.

• Briefing
• Press release