Health Management and Policy Alert

High-need, high-cost patients: who are they and how do they use health care? A population-based comparison of demographics, health care use, and expenditures

The Commonwealth Fund - 
This report presents an analysis of the health care needs of patients in the U.S. with long-term conditions and argues that health care improvement efforts should focus on the needs of those with multiple chronic illnesses and limited ability to care for themselves. 

• Report
• Associated documentation
• Press release

UK Chief Medical Officers' low risk drinking guidelines

Public Health England (PHE) - 
These guidelines, produced by the four UK chief medical officers, provide the most up to date scientific information to help people make informed decisions about their own drinking. The guidelines have been tested through public consultation and market research to ensure the advice is as clear and useable as possible.

• Guidelines
• PHE publications

Quarterly performance of the NHS provider sector: 3 months ended 30 June 2016

NHS Providers - 
The findings of this performance report shows that the number of NHS providers showing a financial deficit fell by 20 percent during the first quarter of 2016/17. The provider sector is reporting an overall deficit of £461 million this quarter which is £5 million better than the planned deficit. 

• Report
• Underlying data
• Press release

Becoming one of us: reforming the UK's citizenship system for a competitive, post-Brexit world

Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) - 
This report calls for a reform of citizenship rules to avoid harm to the British economy and workforce following Brexit. Home Office figures show a rise of 14 per cent in EU nationals applying for British citizenship in the past year, reflecting the uncertainty of the result of the referendum. The report notes that one in ten doctors is from the EU and that this uncertainty would have implications for the NHS workforce and on service provision.

• Report
• Summary
• Press release

Securing meaningful choice for patients: CCG planning and improvement guide

NHS England - 
This guide is designed to help CCGs deliver their statutory duties by highlighting the actions they need to take to make choice work for the populations that they serve. CCGs are encouraged to focus specifically on choice of provider and team for first outpatient appointments and choice of a suitable alternative provider if patients are not able to access certain services within the waiting time standards. The guide sets out a number of enablers for patient choice and the actions that can be taken to deliver each of these.

• Guidance

 

Health in a hurry: the impact of rush hour commuting on our health and wellbeing

Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) - 
This report highlights the impact of passive commuting (via rail, bus or car) on the public's health and wellbeing. The report outlines how longer commute times are associated with increased stress, higher blood pressure and BMI and contributes to reduced time available for health promoting activities such as cooking, exercise and sleeping. The report calls for a greater adoption of flexible and remote working and greater restrictions on unhealthy food and drinks outlets in stations.

• Report
• Press release

Guide for clinical audit leads

Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) - 
This guide is intended to support clinicians who are responsible for leading clinical audit in clinical services and at senior levels in healthcare organisations. This is an update to the previous guide for clinical audit leads which was published by HQIP in 2011. 

• Guide
• HQIP publications

Demand management good practice guide

NHS England - 
This guidance is aimed at commissioners and providers in order to support effective management of demand for NHS services. It provides an overview of regional benchmarking of demand in England alongside a summary of actions and initiatives that can be taken to manage demand on a sustainable basis.

• Guidance

Understanding the basic economics of tobacco harm reduction

Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) - 
This report examines the economics behind smoking cessation policies and argues that minimising taxes on low-risk tobacco products (e-cigarettes or smokeless tobacco) has the potential to improve public health.

• Report
• IEA publications

The hospital at home model: bringing hospital-level care to the patient

The Commonwealth Fund - 
This case study is one in an ongoing series examining programmes that aim to improve outcomes and reduce the cost of care for patients with complex needs, who account for a large share of U.S. health care spending. This case study looks at an initiative that offers patients the option of receiving hospital-level care at home rather than in-hospital.

• Case study
• Commonwealth Fund publications