Health Management and Policy Alert

Understanding and supporting mental health in infancy and early childhood: a toolkit to support local action in the UK

Unicef UK -
This resource aims to support service leaders, commissioners and policy teams to develop a whole-system approach to support the mental health of babies and young children, and to enable them to develop the capacities to be mentally healthy throughout their lives. Evidence shows that the mental health needs of babies and young children – which present differently than in older children and young people – are not well understood and often overlooked. This toolkit acknowledges that it can be harder for professionals to work together to promote and protect mental health at this life stage, as understanding varies across sectors. It suggests practical steps to help all services play their role and work together and will facilitate shared understanding, and constructive discussions about the needs of babies and young children in local communities.

• Toolkit
• Unicef UK - press release

Tackling obesity: improving policy making on food and health

Institute for Government - 
This report finds that every government since 1992 has missed targets to reduce obesity – with the UK’s rising obesity rates harming people’s health and life opportunities, burdening the NHS and damaging the economy. It tries to identify the reasons behind these policy failures and sets out how to make progress. It finds that tackling obesity has suffered from ministers fearing the perception of nanny statism, despite there being public support for ambitious measures. It details how, over three decades, there have been at least 14 strategies, hundreds of policies, and a succession of institutional reforms, with key agencies and teams created and then abolished.

• ReportPublish
• Institute for Government - publications

Black maternal health

Women and Equalities Committee - 

This report calls on the government to set a definitive target to eliminate “appalling” disparities in maternal deaths. Black women are almost four times more likely to die from childbirth than white women. Maternal death rates in deprived areas are on the rise, with women in the most deprived areas 2.5 times more likely to die than those in the least deprived areas.

• Report
• Press release

GP referrals: part 2 – the hidden waiting list

Healthwatch England - 

HealthWatch commissioned Panelbase to carry out an online survey covering two distinct groups who had an appointment with their GP practice in the past 12 months. Firstly, those who either expected or requested a referral for tests, diagnosis, or treatment, but didn't get one, and secondly, those who were referred for tests, diagnosis or treatment. Panelbase heard from 2,144 people overall. The figures quoted in this briefing are based on the 1,518 patients who fall into the second group - those who were referred for tests, diagnosis, or treatment. The survey was also shared via the Healthwatch network (1,825 respondents overall of which 1,458 respondents were in the “referred group”) and comments from both surveys are used to support the analysis and provide quotes for this briefing. Considering how long it can take for a patient to be told they are being referred, combined with the time it takes to get onto a waiting list, the total time the patient has been suffering from their symptoms or condition can be much longer than official waiting time statistics would suggest. There are gaps in measurement for some parts of the referrals process – creating a dangerous blind spot. This briefing shares people’s experiences and the impact behind these figures.

• Briefing
• Press release

GP referrals: part 1 – the referrals black hole

Healthwatch England - 

HealthWatch commissioned Panelbase to carry out an online survey covering two distinct groups who had an appointment with their GP practice in the past 12 months. Firstly, those who either expected or requested a referral for tests, diagnosis, or treatment, but didn't get one, and secondly, those who were referred for tests, diagnosis or treatment. Panelbase heard from 2,144 people overall. The figures quoted in this briefing are based on the 626 patients who fall into the first group. Fieldwork was completed October 2022. The survey was also shared via the Healthwatch network (1,825 respondents overall, of which 357 respondents were in the “not referred group”) and comments from both surveys are used to support the analysis and provide quotes for this briefing. The briefing shares people’s experiences and the impact behind these figures.

• Briefing
• Press release

Maternal health and care in London

London Assembly Health Committee - 

This report looks at the impact of the pandemic on maternal health and services in London, the impact of staffing shortages, and the inequalities that exist across maternal health outcomes. It sets out nine recommendations to improve services.

• Report
• More detail

Bailed out and burned out? The financial impact of Covid-19 on UK care homes for older people and their workforce

Financial Impacts of Covid-19 on Care Homes (FICCH) - 

This report reveals that government support worth over £2 billion helped the care home sector avoid financial collapse during the peak of the pandemic. However, when the support was removed, the sector experienced a crisis due to workforce shortages, inflation, and continuing infection outbreaks. Furthermore, only a small fraction of the additional government funding was spent directly on supporting the workforce even though the sector weathered the storm thanks to staff working longer hours and putting themselves on the line to continue to provide vital care services. The report offers evidence-based recommendations for policy-makers and care home providers on how to ensure the financial and operational sustainability of the sector and prepare it for future pandemics.

• Report
• More detail

The role of regions in health and care: what can be done between systems and the centre?

The King's Fund - 

What role can NHS regions and combined authorities play in the new health and care landscape? Luca Tiratelli (a researcher at The King's Fund) shares five approaches to harness their unique position between national and local bodies.

• Blog

The rise and decline of the NHS in England 2000–20: how political failure led to the crisis in the NHS and social care

The King's Fund - 

This personal work from Professor Sir Chris Ham (previous chief executive at The King's Fund) finds that multi-year funding increases and reforms led to improvements in NHS performance between 2000 and 2010, but performance has declined since 2010 as a result of much lower funding increases, limited funds for capital investment, and neglect of workforce planning.

• Report

Offline and isolated: the impact of digital exclusion on access to healthcare for people seeking asylum in England

British Red Cross - 

This report finds that people seeking asylum in England are at risk of missing out on basic healthcare services because they have limited access to the internet and digital tools. Using a peer research approach, where refugees who have been through the asylum process interviewed people seeking asylum, the report provides a detailed picture of the barriers to online healthcare services. It highlights several barriers, including the affordability of devices and mobile data, a lack of Wi-Fi in asylum accommodation, and a lack of confidence in using technology and navigating websites in English.

• Report
• More detail