Health Management and Policy Alert

Some assembly required: implementing new models of care

The Health Foundation - 
This report sets out ten lessons for local leaders seeking to systematically make changes across services in their area. These are based on first-hand accounts of clinicians and managers from NHS England’s new care models programme vanguard sites, who have developed and tested new ways of joining up health and social care services.

• Report
• Press release

Room to improve: the role of home adaptations in improving later life

Centre for Ageing Better -
This report finds that making small changes to older people’s homes, such as installing handrails, ramps and level-access showers, alongside carrying out simple home repairs, could play a significant role in relieving pressure on the NHS and social care and reduce costs by millions of pounds each year. It also shows that minor home aids and adaptations can greatly improve quality of life for people who are losing mobility.

• Report
• Centre for Ageing Better - news

Scoping review on social care economic evaluation methods

Centre for Health Economics -
This project aimed to inform NICE on the methods available for use in undertaking economic evaluation of social care interventions, the methods in development, the methods challenges faced and the methods gaps. A systematic review of the published literature and a survey of experts were undertaken to fulfil the study aims. Data were extracted on key requirements for economic evaluation: the perspective of the analysis, the interventions compared, the evidence used on costs and effects, opportunity cost, uncertainty, and equity.

• Research paper
• Centre for Health Economics - news

MBRRACE-UK Perinatal Confidential Enquiry: term, singleton, intrapartum stillbirth and intrapartum-related neonatal death

National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit -
This report finds that the rate of term, singleton, intrapartum stillbirth and intrapartum-related neonatal death has more than halved since these deaths were last reviewed nationally in 1993. This represents a reduction of about 220 intrapartum deaths per year. It concludes that despite the fall in the mortality rate these deaths remain an important group for concern because, in the vast majority, the mother was directly receiving maternity care when the baby died or when the event in labour or birth occurred which led to the baby’s death.

• Report
• National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit - press release

Online mental health support for young people

Education Policy Institute -
This report aims to provide insight into the efficacy of online counselling for children and young people. It focuses exclusively on Kooth online counselling and includes user data along with feedback from Kooth users and commissioners. It finds Kooth online counselling is popular and effective in increasing access to care and providing choice. The anonymous nature of the service was found to be a big benefit for children and young people.

• Report
• Education Policy Institute - publications

Voluntary sector action on the social determinants of health

Institute of Health Equity -
This evidence review was commissioned by the Health Foundation and developed in collaboration with New Philanthropy Capital. It provides a wide range of evidence demonstrating the impact of social determinants on health and identifies clear system levers that can be utilised by the voluntary sector to highlight the need for action, to approach potential new partners, and to work collaboratively across sectors. The report is designed to help charities that do not have a health focus understand the evidence about how their social interventions improve people’s health. Addressing these could decrease overall demand and expense in the long term, and can help to keep people well.

• Report
• Institute of Health Equity - publications

Care homes market study: final report

Competition & Markets Authority -
This report looks at the market study into care homes for the elderly, to review how well the market works and if people are treated fairly.

• Full report
• Summary report
• Competition & Markets Authority - publications

Health and social care needs assessments of the older prison population: a guidance document

Public Health England -
This document provides evidence-based guidance on how to carry out a health and social care needs assessment of older people in prisons. Commissioners of prison healthcare services and social care services can use this to understand the needs of older people in prisons and commission and deliver services that meet their needs.

• Guidance
• Public Health England - publications

Checklist for professional development of CCG lay members

NHS Clinical Commissioners -
This checklist aims to help CCGs support the professional development of their lay members. It looks at appraisals, professional development, career development opportunities and planning for the future.

• Checklist
• NHS Clinical Commissioners - publications

Supporting change in your NHS: the non-executive community in transformational change

NHS Clinical Commissioners -
This joint publication with NHS England and NHS Improvement summarises discussions held at two events earlier this year that brought together more than 200 CCG lay members and trust non-executive directors. These events focused on how lay members and NEDs can contribute to the integration and transformation of their local health communities.

• Report
• NHS Clinical Commissioners - publications