Health Management and Policy Alert

Does hospital competition reduce rates of patient harm in the English NHS?

Competition and Markets Authority -
Previous hospital mergers have reduced the number of distinct organisations offering publicly funded and provided care in the NHS, reducing choice and between-hospital competition in some areas. This research tests the impact of variation in concentration on a new quality indicator: the prevalence of patient harm from falls, pressure ulcers, blood clots and urinary tract infections. It finds that hospital mergers in concentrated areas without offsetting clinical benefits could significantly increase rates of patient harm.

• Report
• Competition and Markets Authority - publications

Participation: its impact on services and the people who use them

Iriss -
This research found that the impact of using participation approaches within health and social care was positive overall where most reported either health or economic outcomes, and only a small number of projects reported social outcomes. It concludes that co-production methods such as peer support, volunteering and co-delivery of services were beneficial, particularly for more efficient use of services and cost savings.

• Briefing

Government response to the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee report on childhood obesity: Time for action, eighth report of session 2017–19

Department of Health and Social Care -
This command paper sets out the government’s response to the conclusions and recommendations in the Health and Social Care Select Committee’s report Childhood obesity: Time for action. The committee’s report covered the following areas: a whole systems approach; marketing and advertising; price promotions; early years and schools; takeaways; fiscal measures; labelling; and support for children living with obesity. The government’s response addresses each of these areas.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Health matters: health and work

Public Health England -
This guidance provides actions that employers in general, local authorities, and the NHS workforce can take with regards to health and work.

• Guidance
• Public Health England - publications

Incorporating concerns for equity into health resource allocation: a guide for practitioners

Centre for Health Economics - 
Unfair differences in health care access, quality or health outcomes exist between and within countries around the world, and improving health equity is an important social objective for many governments and international organisations. This paper summaries the methods for analysing health equity available to policymakers regarding the allocation of health sector resources.

• Report

NLGN leadership index

New Local Government Network (NLGN) - 
The NLGN leadership index is a quarterly survey of senior leaders from local authorities across the UK and it asks about their level of confidence in key service areas and about wider indicators of community wellbeing. This quarter's survey finds that there is a significant gap between what leaders feel that they should be spending on preventative services and what they actually spend, equating to an £8.7 billion shortfall in spending on prevention.

• Report
• Press release

Maternity services survey 2018

Care Quality Commission (CQC) - 
Findings from a national survey of more than 17,600 women who gave birth in February 2018 shows that many women are positive about maternity care in England. However, the findings show that there has been limited improvement in patient experience between 2017 and 2018.

• Report
• Further information

Just another day: 24 hours in the NHS – compromised care, staff shortages and serious stress

UNISON - 
Almost half of NHS workers on the front line of patient care say there are not enough staff on their shift to ensure patients are treated safely and with compassion, according to the results of a snapshot survey of NHS staff. The report calls for an increase in NHS funding and mandatory safe-staffing levels in England and Northern Ireland.

• Report
• Press release

Fit for the future: public health people progress report 2016 to 2018

Public Health England (PHE) - 
In May 2016, the Fit for the future review outlined five important themes for developing the public health workforce for 2021 and the plan for achieving this. This report outlines progress made to date against these recommendations.

• Report
• Further information

A model employer: increasing black and ethnic minority representation at senior levels across the NHS

NHS England - 
This document outlines the ambitions set by NHS England and NHS Improvement and reflected in the Long Term Plan, for each NHS organisation to set its own target for BME representation across its leadership team and broader workforce. The strategy will provide accelerated, intensive support to local NHS organisations on increasing the recruitment of BME staff at senior levels

• Report