Health Management and Policy Alert

Global medicine spending and usage trends : outlook to 2025

IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science -
The future level of global spending on medicines has implications for health care systems and policymakers across developed and emerging economies, and these issues are even more important in light of the global Covid-19 pandemic. This report finds medicine spending growth will continue to be driven by traditional factors including patent expiries, launches of new medicines as well as changing volume demand, particularly in pharmerging and lower income countries. Please note that free registration is required to access this report.

• Report

Townscapes: the value of social infrastructure

Bennett Institute for Public Policy -
This report is one in a series that aims to inform the debate on how to support those communities that have been most badly affected by the pandemic and how to promote economic renewal. The report argues that investing in social infrastructure may be equally important for rebalancing the prospects of the UK’s nations, regions, cities and towns. It outlines how the availability of social spaces can improve both physical and mental health and how access to green space is associated with lower rates of depression, anxiety and obesity.

• Report
• Bennett Institute for Public Policy - publications

Pandemic pressures: how Greater Manchester equalities organisations have responded to the needs of older people during the Covid-19 crisis

Ambition for Ageing -
This report highlights a number of recommendations for service commissioners, funders and contractors to contribute to future emergency planning and responses. It recognises the expertise of equalities organisations in understanding and meeting the needs of the communities they represent, and to involve them in coproducing emergency planning and responses.

• Report
• Ambition for Ageing - publications

Covid-19: assessment of hospital-associated SARS-CoV-2 infection and care home outbreaks

Public Health England -
This report uses a data linkage approach to assessing the contribution of hospital-associated SARS-CoV-2 infection to care home outbreaks in England between 30 January and 12 October 2020. The paper was commissioned by the Public Accounts Committee, via the Social Care Working subgroup.

• Report
• Public Health England - publications

Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 statutory guidance

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) - 

The DHSC is seeking views on draft statutory guidance to prevent the inappropriate use of force and ensure transparency and accountability about the use of force in mental health units. The guidance is intended for use by NHS hospitals and independent hospitals (providing NHS-funded care) in England providing care and treatment to patients with a mental disorder. This consultation closes at midday on 17 August 2021.

• Draft guidance
• More detail

What people have told us about NHS dentistry: a review of our evidence - January to March 2021

Healthwatch - 

This review of 1,375 people’s experiences shared with Healthwatch found a lack of consistency across the country when it comes to accessing a dental appointment. Whilst some people were asked to wait an unreasonable time of up to three years for an NHS appointment, those able to afford private care could get an appointment within a week. The review explores people’s attitudes towards affording NHS dental care and sets out recommendations to create equal and affordable access to NHS dentistry.

• Review
• Press release

The role of healthcare services in addressing domestic abuse

House of Commons Library - 

This briefing considers the role of the NHS and healthcare professionals in addressing domestic abuse. It looks at the use of healthcare services by victims and perpetrators, alongside initiatives such as health-based independent domestic violence advisers.

• Briefing
• More detail

 

Blood and body fluid exposures in 2020: results from a survey of RCN members

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) - 

This report suggests that Pressures of the pandemic and a lack of training has led to a 50 per rise in needlestick injuries, a Royal College of Nursing (RCN) report suggests today. The authors surveyed 7,571 RCN members for the report. Of those 15 per cent said they had suffered a ‘sharps injury’ in 2020. This compares to ten per cent in 2008. Reasons for the rise cited in the report included fatigue induced by the pandemic, low staffing levels, lack of training and safer sharps and sharps bins not being available.

• Report
• Press release

 

Generation Covid : the economic impact of Covid-19 on young people in the United Kingdom

All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Youth Affairs -
This report found finds that young people have had their financial, emotional and vocational wellbeing inordinately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and that a holistic approach is needed in order to aid their recovery. In addition to job losses, educational disruption and financial pressures, young people have also experienced increased family strain, heightened anxiety and exacerbated mental health issues as a result of the pandemic. The APPG on Youth Affairs inquiry found these areas to be inexorably interlinked, and further compounded by the overall uncertainty of employment prospects for young people in the future.

• Report
• YMCA - press release

Smoking and health 2021: a coming of age for tobacco control?

Royal College of Physicians -
This report reviews the UK’s progress in reducing smoking prevalence, and sets out comprehensive recommendations for England’s forthcoming National Tobacco Control Plan. It says that while the reduction in smoking prevalence by 75 per cent since 1962 has been considered a national success, if the policies advocated by the RCP in 1962 had been adopted and followed through, smoking would have been eradicated from the UK years ago.

• Report
• Royal College of London - press release