Health Management and Policy Alert

A perfect storm: health inequalities and the impact of Covid-19

Local Government Association -
This report warns that Covid-19 has created a ‘perfect storm’ of existing inequality and disease, leading to higher rates of coronavirus infections and death amongst the most disadvantaged people. It says it is vital to act now and drive forward work programmes which reduce inequalities, prevent poor health and improve people’s opportunities to live healthier, more active lives. Examples from local authorities are included, ranging from providing mental health services for tackling loneliness and isolation, to accessing essential items such as food, medicine and financial support.

• Report
• Local Government Association - news

National disability strategy

Cabinet Office Disability Unit -
This strategy sets out the government’s vision to improve the everyday lives of disabled people, aiming to ensure that disability is not a barrier to people living full, independent lives where they can reach their full potential. The strategy has been developed with the input of more than 14,000 disabled people, as well as disability organisations, businesses, policy experts and many others.

• Strategy

When we work together: learning the lessons

The Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping -
This report calls on the Government to learn from the success of the Covid-19 response and continue the increased investment in homelessness services to avoid a post pandemic surge in rough sleeping. In total the report makes 22 recommendations around increased funding for homeless services, changes to the welfare system, partnership working across agencies involved in supporting those rough sleeping or at risk of homelessness, the increased involvement of health services in solutions for people experiencing homelessness and a tailored approach for women, young people and those with no recourse to public funds.

• Report
• The Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping - news

Social care leaders: vision for a future workforce strategy

Skills for Care -
The leaders of Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Care Provider Alliance, Care and Support Alliance, Local Government Association, Skills for Care, Social Care Institute for Excellence and Think Local Act Personal have come together to offer a collective vision of what should be in a workforce strategy for the growing sector. It argues that a strategy for the 1.5 million strong workforce must be driven by a shared vision. It also suggestes priorities which should be included in a national workforce strategy such as staff recognition and investment in training.

• Report
• Skills for Care - news

Through the visor 2: further learning from member experiences during Covid-19

British Geriatrics Society (BGS) -
This report is from a second survey of BGS members describing their experiences of working through the Covid-19 pandemic during winter 2020-21 and beyond. Respondents represented a variety of professions involved in the health care of older people. These included consultants, speciality registrars, specialist nurses, allied health professionals and GPs working in acute, community and primary care. While responses indicated that many practical aspects had improved since the first survey, concerns remained, including the mental and emotional toll on health care professionals caring for older people.

• Report
• British Geriatrics Society - press release

You only had to ask: what people with multiple conditions say about health equity

The Richmond Group of Charities -
The research for this report focused on four areas of England containing communities on low incomes, people from minority ethnic groups and people living in both urban and rural environments. It combines the insights of the professionals and services working in those places with those of the people living there. These areas are: Stockwell in South London, Manningham and Toller in Bradford, Balsall Heath East and Sparkbrook in Birmingham and North Ormesby in Middlesbrough. The report calls on national decision-makers to act on its findings or face growing health inequality, worse outcomes for people and a growing bill for the Treasury.

• Report
• The Richmond Group of Charities - news

The lived experience of disabled people during the Covid-19 pandemic

Cabinet Office Disability Unit -
The aim of this research was to understand the impact of Covid-19 on the lives of disabled people, to identify problems that could be resolved through policy changes and to make the changes necessary that would lead to positive outcomes. This research will feed into short-term responses to Covid-19. It will also be considered regarding policies within the Disability Unit’s National Strategy for Disabled People and long-term planning efforts regarding possible future pandemics.

• Report
• Cabinet Office Disability Unit - publications

Coronavirus: the consequences for mental health

Mind -
This research with almost 12,000 people found that those with mental health problems report an increase in the severity of challenges they're facing now and concerns about the future. The authors call for services to be ready for the increase in severity of people's mental health problems, and to take into account the trauma that people have experienced over the last year and how this might affect the support they need.

• Report
• Mind - publications

Integrated care systems boundaries review: decision summary

Department of Health and Social Care -
Earlier this year, ministers asked NHS England to: set out options for boundary alignment in ICSs in specific geographies where upper-tier local authorities currently have to work across more than one ICS footprint; and assess the impact of changes to deliver alignment in each case. This work has now concluded, with advice provided to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. This paper sets out the final decision that has been taken for the areas in scope of the review.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

A wait on your mind?: a realistic proposal for tackling the elective backlog

Policy Exchange -
This research looks at the entirety of the patient pathway and proposes a package of policy recommendations. These range from how to best address the bottleneck in general practice and diagnostics, to the method of clinical prioritisation, the communication with the patient, the role for pre-habilitation, and then finally considers the policy framework which should underpin an expansion in elective care capacity over the medium term.

• Report
• Policy Exchange - publications