Health Management and Policy Alert

The state of care in general practice 2014 to 2017: findings from CQC’s programme of comprehensive inspections of GP practices

Care Quality Commission (CQC) -
This report presents findings from the CQC programme of inspections of GP practices. It finds that GPs are facing ongoing pressures around capacity, patient demand and workload. It also discovers that the best general practices are driving change and embracing innovation to make sure they are able to deliver even better care into the future. It concludes that the majority of general practices are safe and of a high quality.

• Report
• CQC - news

Person-centred care in 2017: evidence from service users

National Voices -
This report attempts to create a snapshot of the extent of person-centred care in the English health and care system, based on how people report their experience of treatment, care and support. This data was found through surveys of patients and service users. It concludes that NHS services do not give people adequate control of their own health and care, and there is no reporting of whether people’s care is coordinated across health and social care.

• Report
• National Voices - news

Access and waiting times in children and young people's mental health services

Education Policy Institute (EPI) -
This report examines new data on access to specialist treatment for children and young people with mental health problems, and the waiting times they face. It finds that children with mental health problems face barriers when seeking access to mental health services. It also finds that, over the last year, overall waiting times (including both assessment and treatment) have fallen – yet there remains substantial variation across England. This data was obtained by EPI through a Freedom of Information request.

• Report
• EPI - publications

Models of delivery for stop smoking services: options and evidence

Public Health England -
This document supports directors of public health and local healthcare commissioners in rapidly appraising the evidence, to enable informed decisions on the provision of local stop smoking support.

• Guidance
• Public Health England - publications

Local government finance settlement 2018 to 2019: technical consultation

Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) - 
This consultation seeks views on technical issues concerning the 2018 to 2019 local government finance settlement. The paper sets out the government’s intended approach for the third year of the multi-year local government finance settlement. The consultation closes on 26 October 2017.

• Consultation
• Response form
• DCLG consultations

Employer standards for public health teams consultation

Faculty of Public Health (FPH) - 
This draft standard provides guidance and good practice for all organisations that employ public health professionals. They set out responsibilities around supporting employees, ensuring their capacity and the capacity and capability of the public health workforce, by supporting professional training. Comments and feedback on this draft standard are being sought until 12 October 2017.

• Draft standard
• Further information

Noncommunicable diseases progress monitor 2017

World Health Organization (WHO) - 
This report outlines progress made by WHO member states against globally agreed targets to control long-term conditions and chronic diseases. It finds that whilst the United Kingdom has fully achieved on many targets in relation to smoking and unhealthy diets, there is still progress to be made on reduction measures on harmful use of alcohol.

• Report
• Press release

The future of the mental health workforce

Centre for Mental Health - 
This report calls for reform of mental health services in order to develop a workforce that is able to meet people's needs in the future. The report describes commissioning of mental health services as in crisis with a diminishing workforce, growing expectations and increasing demand putting pressure on staff across the country. It recommends that all GPs should have significant and wide-ranging mental health training, and that mental health professionals should be given the time and training to consult with GPs and other public service staff to help them to respond to more people’s mental health needs.

• Report
• Press release

Depression in children and young people: identification and management

National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) - 
This guideline covers identifying and managing depression in children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years. Based on the stepped care model, it aims to improve recognition and assessment and promote effective treatments for mild, moderate and severe depression. The guidance has been updated to clarify the training needed for therapists.

• Guidance

Type 2 diabetes: prevention in people at high risk

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) - 
This refreshed public health guideline recommends that people at the highest risk of type 2 diabetes should be given intensive exercise and weight loss help by the NHS. NICE has identified 1.7 million people who could benefit from lifestyle advice administered by the NHS as there is evidence to suggest that lifestyle changes can help those with high fasting glucose to avoid developing diabetes. 

• Guidance
• Press release