Health Management and Policy Alert

Lockdown, lifelines and the long haul ahead: the impact of Covid-19 on food banks in the Trussell Trust network

The Trussell Trust -
This report estimates 846,000 parcels will need to be provided by the Trussell Trust network to people in crisis during October to December 2020 – a 61 per cent increase on last year. It predicts that an additional 670,000 people will be destitute by the end of the year, meaning they cannot afford essentials like housing, energy, and food.

• Report
• The Trussell Trust - press release

Covid-19 and the health and care workforce: supporting our greatest asset

NHS Confederation -
This report includes key findings from a member survey of more than 250 health care leaders, which revealed that nine out of ten respondents are concerned about the long-term impact of Covid-19 on the wellbeing of their staff. It also raises concerns about workforce shortages.

• Report
• NHS Confederation - news

Health as the new wealth: the NHS’s role in economic and social recovery

NHS Confederation -
This report argues that halth services have a vital role to play in the wider recovery and rebuilding of local economies and communities – driving up prosperity, population health and wellbeing – in the wake of Covid-19. It highlights the links between health and growth, outlines a five-point plan for every system to build on to maximise their local impact and influence and showcases innovative practice which is supporting lasting local change.

• Report
• NHS Confederation - publications

Whistleblowing disclosures report 2020: healthcare professional regulators

Nursing & Midwifery Council -
This report shows that 107 disclosures of instances of whistleblowing which met the criteria were received compared to 34 in the previous year. The report shows actions taken and how the organisations involved worked together in handling issues or concerns raised by nurses, midwives, nursing associates, students or other health care professionals in their workplaces or practice placements across the UK.

• Report
• Nursing & Midwifery Council - news

Health Equity Assessment Tool (HEAT)

Public Health England -
The HEAT aims to be a practical framework that enables multiple audiences to systematically embed action on health inequalities and equalities in their work programme or service. The resources consist of: HEAT executive summary; HEAT tool – full version; HEAT tool – simplified version; case studies demonstrating practical application of the tool and the main benefits of applying it in different work areas.

• Resources

NHS nursing workforce

House of Commons Public Account Committee -
This report finds that the NHS has 40,000 nursing vacancies with tens of thousands leaving every year, and 36 per cent of current workforce considering leaving in the next year. It says that the progress on increasing the number of nurses in the NHS is too slow and expresses concerns about the Department of Health and Social Care’s approach to addressing shortages in adult social care nurses.

• Report
• House of Commons Public Accounts Committee - news

The courage of compassion: supporting nurses and midwives to deliver high-quality care

The King's Fund -
This report, commissioned by the RCN Foundation, explores the causes and consequences of poor mental health and wellbeing among nurses and midwives, and seeks to identify solutions to these issues and examples of good practice.

• Report
• The King's Fund - publications

Homes, health and Covid-19

Centre for Ageing Better -
This report from Centre for Ageing Better, written in partnership with The King's Fund, summarises the role and impact of poor-quality housing on health, particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Report
• Centre for Ageing Better - publications

Lessons and legacy from the Covid-19 pandemic in health and care

The AHSN Network - 
This report contains key findings from a short research study undertaken in June and July to understand how technology has been an enabler in reducing the care burden and coping with the Covid-19 crisis, and to identify what should be sustained in the ‘new normal’ longer-term. It argues that social care needs to be given the same weighting as to the NHS to accelerate the move towards health and social care integration.

• Report
• The AHSN Network - news

A market for residential care services

Social Market Foundation -
This report analyses the performance of the residential care market in England and makes a series of recommendations following on from the Competition and Markets Authority’s 2017 study of the care home market. This includes backing the CMA’s recommendation for an “independent body” to oversee the care market. The report argues that the independent body should be responsible for providing improved forecasting of demand for and cost of social care in England, and national guidelines for the minimum cost of care services. The report identifies the Care Quality Commission as well-placed to take on responsibility for running the independent body.

• Report
• Social Market Foundation - publications