Health Management and Policy Alert

All systems go

Royal College of General Practitioners - 

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) states in this 'tech manifesto' that a robust and joined-up IT system across the NHS needs to be prioritised before a technological 'revolution' in patient care can truly happen. The manifesto recognises the exciting potential of genomics, AI, digital medicine and robotics to potentially revolutionise patient care and improve patient safety. However the RCGP says that widespread improvement will only be possible once robust, secure IT systems are in place for all GP practices and all areas of the NHS have access to computer networks which seamlessly link up the patient journey.

• Manifesto
• Press release

Opt-out organ donation: organs and tissues excluded from the new system

Department of Health and Social Care -

From 2020, everyone in England over the age of 18 will be considered to be in favour of donating their organs and tissue after death unless they: have said they do not want to donate (opted out); have appointed someone to decide for them after death; or are in an excluded group. The government proposes that transplants of certain organs and tissues will still need consent and is asking people for their views on which organs and tissues should be excluded from the new opt-out organ donation system. This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 22 July 2019.

• Consultation paper
• More detail

Did government spending cuts to social care for older people lead to an increase in emergency hospital admissions? An ecological study, England 2005–2016

The Strategy Unit - 

Cuts to council social care budgets are often cited as a cause of pressure on NHS urgent and emergency care services. Much of the evidence supporting this link, however, is anecdotal. This paper set out to try and quantify the effect of cuts to social care on older people’s use of emergency healthcare services.

• BMJ Open paper
• More detail

Transitions to adulthood: the case for a cross-departmental taskforce

The Children's Society - 

One in five 16 year olds experience five or more complex issues. Their age means these young people often fall between the cracks of children’s and adults’ services and are left without support. Many face further challenges as support drops off overnight after their eighteenth birthday, making the transition into independent adulthood difficult. This report outlines steps that government departments and other agencies should take to improve transitions for young people. It recommends that the government forms a cross-departmental taskforce to look into transition planning for older teenagers as they move into adulthood, to ensure the best outcomes for vulnerable young people.

• Report
• More detail

Using audit in commissioning sexual health, reproductive health and HIV services: guidance for commissioners

Public Health England - 

This document provides guidance to commissioners on how audits can contribute to both assure quality of service provision and drive continuous quality improvement in sexual health, reproductive health and HIV services.

• Guidance
• More details

Social and emotional wellbeing in primary and secondary education

National Institute of Health and Care Excellence - 

This draft scope guideline is open for consultation. The scope defines what the guideline will (and will not) cover. The guideline will update and replace NICE guidelines on Social and Emotional Wellbeing in primary education (NICE PH12; 2008) and Social and Emotional wellbeing in secondary education (NICE PH20; 2009). The consultation closes on 28 May 2019 at 5pm.

• Draft scope guideline
• More details

End of life care for adults: service delivery

National Institute of Health and Care Excellence - 

This draft guideline, open for consultation, covers organising and delivering end of life care services for adults approaching the end of their life. It aims to ensure that people have access to end of life services in all care settings, according to their needs and wishes. It also includes advice on services for carers and other people important to adults who are approaching the end of their life. The consultation closes on 7 June 2019 at 5pm.

• Draft guideline
• More details

Strengthening the frontline: investing in primary care for effective suicide prevention

Centre for Mental Health - 

This report, produced with the Samaritans, explores the role of GP services in helping people who are at risk of suicide. It identifies five areas for improvement to help GPs to offer life-saving support: the provision of effective, ongoing training for GPs; investment in the capacity of primary care services to enable longer appointments and continuity of care for patients needing ongoing support; emotional support for GPs themselves; more effective care pathways for people who feel suicidal to clinical and social support; and opportunities to refer patients who need more specialist support.

• Report
• Press release

Fixing the care crisis

Centre for Policy Studies - 

This report argues that the current system is financially and politically unsustainable, opaque, unfair, and actively discourages local councils from investing in social care and housing for older people. It argues that the care system should adopt the model of the state pension – with the government providing enough support for a decent standard of care via a new Universal Care Entitlement, while encouraging and incentivising people to top up this provision from their savings or housing wealth via a Care Supplement.

• Report
• More detail

Social care 360

The King's Fund -
This review outlines and analyses 20 key trends in adult social care in England over recent years. Using a variety of publicly-available data, it provides a uniquely rounded - '360 degree' - view of the sector.

• Report
• The King's Fund - press release