Health Management and Policy Alert

Data saves lives: reshaping health and social care with data (draft)

Department of Health and Social Care -
This draft strategy sets out plans to harness the potential of data in health and care, while aiming to maintain high standards of privacy and ethics. It provides an overarching narrative and action plan to address the current cultural, behavioural and structural barriers in the system with the ultimate goal of having a health and care system that is underpinned by high quality, readily available data. It marks the next steps of the discussion about how best to utilise data for the benefit of patients, service users, and the health and care system.

• Draft strategy
• Feedback form
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Admin matters: the impact of NHS administration on patient care

The King's Fund -
High-quality NHS admin processes can improve patient experience, help to address inequalities and promote better care. This long read suggests a framework for improving the quality of admin based on insight from patients, carers and NHS staff.

• Long read
• Related project reports

Switched on: how do we get the best out of automation and AI in health care?

The Health Foundation -
This report calls on policymakers and NHS leaders to invest in infrastructure and skills to enable NHS staff to use automation technologies and AI safely and effectively in the future, and to engage with the public and NHS workforce to build confidence in technology enabled care. It found that 36 per cent of the general public and 44 per cent of NHS staff surveyed wanted to see more automation and AI in health care in the future – compared to 21 per cent of the public and 14 per cent of NHS staff who said they would like to see less.

• Report
• The Health Foundation - press release

HIV and migration: understanding the barriers faced by people born abroad living with HIV in the UK

National AIDS Trust - 

This report, based on interviews with migrants living with HIV in the UK, found migrants are being left behind in the UK’s response to HIV, despite being disproportionately affected by HIV. Respondents said they experienced significant barriers accessing HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and care. It recommends how to improve the health outcomes and quality of life of migrants living with or at risk of HIV in the UK.

• Report
• Press release

Enhanced service specification: long Covid 2021/22

NHS England and NHS Improvement - 

This enhanced service specification aims to support general practice in managing long Covid.

• Specification
• More detail

 

Healthy workplace toolkit

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) - 

This toolkit provides organisations with a systematic framework to use to improve working environments. The RCN recognises that there are a number of frameworks in place to improve working environments and the health and wellbeing of the workforce, however this framework has been developed with nursing staff with the aim of improving their working environment and conditions and the subsequent impact this will have on their health and wellbeing.

• Toolkit
• Press release

Connecting for change: for the future of learning disability nursing

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) - 

In 2018, the number of learning disability nurses working in NHS hospital and community services in Englan hit a record low of 3,192 – a fall of 40 per cent in less than a decade. Since then, it has risen to 3,214 – an increase of just 22 full-time equivalent posts in the NHS. This report sets out a series of recommendations and priorities that the UK government and devolved administrations need to address. It also identifies priorities for the RCN to take forward.

• Report
• Press release

Digital boards: tackling digital inclusion means designing services that meet all your users’ needs

NHS Providers - 

The acceleration of digital ways of working during the pandemic has seen digital inclusion rise up the board agenda. Board leaders need a shared understanding of what digital inclusion means and clarity on their priorities for action. This briefing defines digital inclusion and highlights practical tips.

• Briefing
• More detail

Direct-to-consumer genomic testing

House of Commons Science and Technology Committee - 

The popularity of genomics tests sold directly to consumers has increased in recent years, with products focusing on ancestry, health outcomes and genetic traits. This report urges policymakers to seize opportunities and address risks posed by the increasing availability and scope of consumer genomic testing, making a number of recommendations for the government to consider when updating regulations.

• Report
• Press release

The most expensive breakfast in history: revisiting the Wanless review 20 years on

Health Foundation - 

Twenty years on from the Wanless report, this study looks back at its origins, methodology and impact, highlighting the learnings that can be applied to the pandemic recovery.

• Study
• More detail