Health Management and Policy Alert

Quit success rates in England 2007-2017

Public Health England - 

New data published in a University College of London (UCL) report shows quitting smoking success rates at their highest for at least a decade, up to 19.8 per cent for the first six months of this year, significantly higher than the average for the last 10 years (15.7 per cent).  The report coincides with the launch of Stoptober quit smoking challenge, which has inspired over one and a half million quit attempts since 2012. 

• Report
• Press Release

Alcohol, drugs and tobacco: commissioning support pack

Public Health England - 
This commissioning support pack will help local authorities to develop joint strategic needs assessment and local joint health and wellbeing strategies which effectively address public health issues relating to alcohol, drug and tobacco use.

• Guidance

Steering towards strategic commissioning: transforming the system

NHS Clinical Commissioners -
This report sets out CCGs’ vision for the future and what they need to get there at pace so they can deliver more for patients. It shows there is a strong belief that healthcare commissioning must continue to be clinically led, operate at a scale larger than a CCG footprint, retain its purchasing function and remain accountable to the local population.

• Report
• NHS Clinical Commissioners - news

Improving staff retention: a guide for employers

NHS Employers - 
This guide reflects and builds upon the work that NHS Employers has been doing since late 2016 with 92 NHS trusts, to identify and implement actions that can reduce the rate of leavers in NHS organisations. It also includes a number of case studies that illustrate the breadth of work that is being done across the NHS to improve staff retention.

• Guide
• NHS Employers news

Freedom to Speak Up guardian survey 2017: findings and recommendations

Care Quality Commission (CQC) - 
This report outlines the results of a survey of NHS whistleblowing guardians which aimed to understand how the role has been implemented, who is being appointed to the role and guardians' views on the Freedom to Speak Up initiative. The report makes ten recommendations for the development of the role as a result of the findings of the survey.

• Report
• Further information

A review of new psychoactive substances in secure mental health: summary document

Public Health England (PHE) - 
This document reviews the impact of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in secure mental health settings, and makes recommendations for the management of NPS use in these settings.

• Guidance
• PHE publications

Autumn 2017 budget representation

Faculty of Public Health (FPH) - 
This briefing highlights FPH's call to government for greater investment in public health ahead of the Autumn Budget. The recommendations prioritise increased funding and addressing the challenges of Brexit as key areas of focus.

• Briefing
• PFH news

Social marketing strategy 2017 to 2020

Public Health England (PHE) - 
This marketing strategy describes how PHE will use social marketing and health promotion to support the objectives of its business plan and England’s public health system.

• Plan
• PHE publications

Prevention in action

British Red Cross - 
This report argues that local authorities in England must do more in their areas to provide services that prevent, reduce or delay the need for care and support. The report analyses the impact of the Care Act on the provision of preventative services and finds that the act's vision for prevention is not being fully realised. The report provides a national picture of local developments and highlights areas of good practice alongside areas for improvement.

• Report
• Press release

Smoking cessation interventions and services: guideline consultation

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) - 
This draft guideline covers stop smoking interventions and services delivered in primary care and community settings. The recommendations focus on vulnerable groups who find it hard to quit or are heavy smokers. Feedback and comments are now being invited on this draft guideline and the accompanying documentation. The consultation closes on 1 November 2017.

• Draft guideline
• Further information