Health Management and Policy Alert

Response to consultation: the National Guardian for the NHS - improvement through openness

Care Quality Commission (CQC) - 
This report presents a joint response from CQC and the National Guardian's Office to a consultation on how the National Guardian's Office should be established and run. The joint response reflects the immediate priorities and functions of the National Guardian's Office which include: providing advice and support on the role of Freedom to Speak Up Guardians; setting up a support network; and establishing a programme of engagement events for board members and guardians.

• Response
• Consultation analysis
• Press release

New care models and prevention: an integral partnership

NHS Confederation - 
This report, jointly published by NHS Confederation, NHS Clinical Commissioners, NHS Providers and the Local Government Association, presents five case studies to highlight how vanguards have sought to address the health and wellbeing gap and the impacts seen so far. It finds that a reduction in emergency admissions for the over-65s, fewer delayed transfers of care, and GPs able to dedicate more time to frail older patients are among some of the early achievements of pioneering prevention initiatives taking root across the country.

• Report
• Press release

The impact of the sugar tax on different drinks

TaxPayers' Alliance - 
This briefing examines the impact of the soft drinks industry levy on a variety of drinks and argues that the levy will not affect all drinks with similar levels of sugar, such as hot drinks. 

• Briefing
• Press release

Lightning review: access to child and adolescent mental health services, May 2016

Children's Commissioner - 
This review of access to mental health services highlights the long waiting lists and restricted access for those with life-threatening conditions. From a request of data from public bodies, the review found that 28 per cent of children who were referred for specialist mental health treatment in 2015 did not receive a service. A significant proportion of children with life-threatening mental health conditions - 14 per cent  of the 3,000 about whom information was obtained - were denied specialist support. These included children who had attempted suicide or serious self-harm and those with psychosis and anorexia nervosa.

• Report
• Press release

Consultation on changes to the NHS patient survey programme

Care Quality Commission -
The survey programme is used to collect feedback on the experiences of people using a range of NHS healthcare services. The current programme includes surveys of adult inpatients, community mental health service users, people using maternity services, outpatients, children and young people’s inpatient services and accident and emergency patients. Our aim in consulting on changes is to ensure that programme has maximum impact and value, and that it remains relevant and useful for those using the survey results across the health and social care system. The consultation will run to 21 July 2016.

• Consultation
• Care Quality Commission - consultations

Infant mortality and stillbirth in the UK

Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) -
This briefing reviews recent data on stillbirth and infant mortality rates in the UK and examines the factors contributing to increased risk. It then looks at the policy options that may help to improve health outcomes for infants and their families.

• Briefing
• POST - publications

The battle for breath: the impact of lung disease in the UK

The British Lung Foundation -
The British Lung Foundation funded a three-year epidemiological research project: The respiratory health of the nation. This report presents the results. It details the overall extent and impact of lung disease across the UK. It also takes a closer look at the impact of 15 major lung conditions. This report aims to be of use to policymakers, researchers, health care providers and professionals, and the commercial health care sector, patients and patient groups to inform strategies to improve lung health and lung disease outcomes in the UK.

• Report
• The British Lung Foundation - research

Health technologies: are older people interested?

2020health -
This discussion paper looks at the challenges of an ageing population and how digital technology can help older people stay healthy and independent. The received wisdom is that older people, and their baby-boomer children who are themselves over 55 years of age, are resistant to embracing technology in this context. This research paper examined whether this is actually true.

• Discussion paper
• 2020health - publications

The future of public services: digital patients

Reform -
This report highlights the important role app and wearable technology will play in healthcare. It finds that the emergence of wearable and app technology in healthcare presents policymakers with an unprecedented opportunity to engage patients in their own healthcare. It concludes that, if care teams had access to user-generated data, it could enrich their understanding of the patient and how best to manage their condition.

• Report
• Reform - publications

The role of the nurse on the CCG governing body

NHS Clinical Commissioners -
This report highlights how the role of nurses on a CCG’s governing body has changed over time, empowering them to make more of a difference for their local patients and populations. It reveals how many CCGs are now employing full time chief or executive nurses with responsibility for the day-to-day running of an element of the organisation, going beyond the legal requirement for a registered nurse to sit on their governing body. The report illustrates the impact that commissioning nurses are making locally, such as reducing rates of smoking in pregnancy, providing a voice for practice nurses and leading local service development. It also makes recommendations for national organisations and CCGs themselves on how they can support the commissioning nurse to be as effective as possible.

• Briefing
• NHS Clinical Commissioners - news