Health Management and Policy Alert

Understanding the new commissioning system in England: contexts, mechanisms and outcomes

Policy Research Unit in Commissioning and the Healthcare System -
This study explores how the new commissioning system is functioning after reorganisation of the NHS in England in 2012. This research aimed to assess the impact of the reforms on the operation and outcomes of the commissioning system.

• Report
• Policy Research Unit in Commissioning and the Healthcare System - news

Review of adult social care complaints 2017-2018

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman -
This report, which looks at the data behind every adult social care complaint the Ombudsman has received over the twelve month period, shows there has been a nine per cent increase in complaints about charging. It also examines the impact the Ombudsman has on improving services through complaints. Over the past year, it has made 274 recommendations to authorities and providers to improve procedures or undertake staff training – a 19 per cent increase on the previous year.

• Report
• Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman - news

Items which should not routinely be prescribed in primary care: an update and a consultation on further guidance for CCGs

NHS England -
The objective of this work is to support CCGs in their decision-making, to address unwarranted variation, and to provide clear national advice to make local prescribing practices more effective. The current financial situation means that CCGs need to make increasingly difficult decisions about how to spend the NHS budget and this means prioritising those things that will give patients the best clinical outcomes. Any savings from implementing the proposals will be reinvested in improving patient care. The closing date for comments is 28 February 2019.

• Consultation
• NHS England - consultations

Making sure people seeking and refused asylum can access healthcare: what needs to change?

Equality and Human Rights Commission -
This research explores the experiences of people who are or have been in the asylum process in Britain, as well as engaging with healthcare professionals and analysing existing research. It finds that cost and fears about how they will be treated, or consequences for their immigration status, are preventing people seeking or refused asylum from using health services. It calls for greater separation of the immigration and healthcare systems.

• Report
• Equality and Human Rights Commission - news

Community mental health survey 2018

Care Quality Commission -
This survey looks at the experiences of people receiving community mental health services. It finds that people’s experiences of the care they receive from community-based mental health services have continued to deteriorate. It highlights concerns around access to care, care planning and support for people with mental health conditions in relation to physical health needs, financial advice or benefits.

• Reports and supporting documents
• Care Quality Commission - press release

Independent evaluation of The Guinness Partnership’s dementia project

Housing LIN -
The Housing LIN was commissioned by The Guinness Partnership to undertake an independent evaluation of the progress made in becoming a more dementia-friendly organisation. Guinness implemented a two year project in 2015 to take forward developments, initially in two pilot areas of Havant and Manchester with a view to rolling out successful approaches more broadly.

• Report
• Housing LIN - projects

Sustainability in Public Health England 2018

Public Health England -
This report outlines the sustainable development activities in Public Health England, regarding its carbon footprint and its impact on the environment.

• Report
• Public Health England - publications

Empowering NHS leaders to lead

Department of Health and Social Care -
This review was led by Sir Ron Kerr and explored three challenges faced by executive leaders across the NHS: expectations and support available for leaders; alignment of performance expectations at the organisational and system level; and level of administrative burden placed upon executive leaders. The review makes a number of recommendations to address these challenges.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Health visitor service delivery metrics and outcomes: metric and outcome definitions

Public Health England -
These documents present metadata including the definitions of health visitor service delivery metrics and associated outcomes as calculated from the Community Services Dataset. They also include responses to an online survey about working definitions for these metrics. These initial definitions will form the basis for ongoing refinement, allowing for improvement over time.

• Report
• Public Health England - publications

Leadership in integrated care systems

Social Care Institute for Excellence - 

This paper, aimed at chief executives, directors and senior managers from the NHS, local authorities, housing organisations and voluntary and community sector, is based on findings from interviews with systems leaders and a review of the literature. The NHS Leadership Academy commissioned SCIE to undertake this research to further expand the understanding of systems leadership and leadership of integrated care systems. Free registration is required to access this document.

• Report