Health Management and Policy Alert

Private healthcare order 2014: directions issued to seven hospitals

Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) - 
Following the CMA's 2014 investigation of the private health care sector, private hospitals are now required to submit information on their quality of care to the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) for publication. Seven hospitals have been directed to publish information on the quality of their private healthcare services after failing to meet the deadline. These directions have been issued to the hospitals and they demand that this information is provided by the end of October 2017.

• Directions
• Press release

Future of the sea: health and wellbeing of coastal communities

Government Office for Science (GO-Science) - 
This report summarises the evidence on the drivers of and growing threats to the health and wellbeing of coastal communities. These include the current health status of UK coastal communities; economic and demographic drivers of change; and threats to health from the changing environment.

• Report
• GO-Science publications

The bottom line: understanding the NHS deficit and why it won’t go away

Nuffield Trust - 
This briefing assesses the financial health of the NHS provider sector by unpicking the headline figures presented in the official accounts to reveal the true underlying state of the NHS’s finances today, and to outline prospects for the next three to four years. The analysis finds that NHS trusts ended last year with an underlying overspend almost £3 billion more than was reported in their official accounts. It warns that even if trusts continue to make savings, underlying deficits will still remain until 2020/21. 

• Briefing
• Press release

Sexual health, reproductive health and HIV: a review of commissioning

Public Health England (PHE) - 
This report outlines the findings of a 2016 survey, carried out jointly with the Association of Directors of Public Health, which aimed to gain a clear picture of the commissioning arrangements for sexual health, reproductive health and HIV services. The survey found that whilst there has been progress in improving services and the development of collaborative approaches there is also evidence of structural concerns which have the potential to impede effective commissioning. Key findings from the survey highlight the fragmentation of commissioning, barriers to access for those at greatest risk, increasing financial pressures and patient demand, and workforce concerns.

• Report
• PHE publications

Life sciences: industrial strategy

Office for Life Sciences - 
This report outlines the findings of an independent sector-led review into the life sciences industry by Professor Sir John Bell. One of the recommendations arising out of the review is the establishment of the Healthcare Advanced Research Program (HARP), a programme through which industries, charities and the NHS can collaborate on ambitious and long-term UK-based projects to transform healthcare and take advantage of the medical trends of the next 20 years.

• Report
• Press release

Mental health services: cost-effective commissioning

Public Health England (PHE) - 
This report, commissioned by PHE and written by the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU), summarises the evidence on promoting good mental health and reducing the impact of poor mental health, generated through a rapid evidence review. The accompanying return on investment tool and user guide aims to support economic evaluation of mental health interventions and prevention of mental ill health. 

• Toolkit

Psychosocial pathways and health outcomes

Public Health England (PHE) - 
This report, commissioned by PHE and written by the UCL Institute of Health Equity, highlights the current evidence that exists about the relationships between social determinants, psychosocial factors and health outcomes. It also provides a conceptual framework that focuses on the psychosocial pathways between factors associated with social, economic and environmental conditions, psychological and psychobiological processes, health behaviours and mental and physical health outcomes.

• Report
• PHE publications

Stocktake of local mental health prevention planning arrangements

Public Health England (PHE) - 
This report, commissioned by PHE and written by The King's Fund, provides a high-level summary of how local areas are currently incorporating mental health promotion and prevention of mental ill-health in their planning processes. The findings are based primarily on a content analysis of key planning documents in 35 local areas. This included a random sample of 16 areas across England and 19 areas selected as possible examples of transferable effective practice.

• Report
• PHE publications

Better mental health: JSNA toolkit

Public Health England (PHE) - 
This toolkit aims to support the joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA) process in relation to mental health needs. It links mental health data, policy and knowledge to help planners understand needs within the local population and assess local services.

• Toolkit

Prevention concordat for better mental health: planning resource

Public Health England (PHE) - 
The Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health is underpinned by an understanding that taking a prevention-focused approach to improving the public’s mental health is shown to make a valuable contribution to achieving a fairer and more equitable society. This resource has been developed to help local areas put in place effective arrangements to promote good mental health and prevent mental health problems. It does so by offering a five-part framework of focus for effective planning for better mental health.

• Guidance
• Consensus statement