Health Management and Policy Alert

The distribution of public service spending

Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) - 

This commentary for the IFS Deaton Review of Inequalities sets out what is known about the distribution of spending on major public services, and how and why this changed over time. It also explains the key conceptual and methodological issues involved in such analysis and identifies key lessons for policy and avenues for future research.

• Report
• More detail

Nursing and midwifery national job profile review: evidence report

NHS Staff Council — Job Evaluation Group - 

Following a request by The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), the NHS Staff Council’s Job Evaluation Group undertook a review of the national job profiles for nursing and midwifery. The aim of this review is to ensure that these profiles reflect current nursing and midwifery practice and are fit for purpose in all health and care settings. This report is the output from the evidence gathering stage of the review project.

• Report
• More detail

Keeping children and young people with mental health needs safe: the design of the paediatric ward

Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch - 

Paediatric wards in acute hospitals are increasingly caring for children and young people who have mental health needs. Paediatric wards are primarily designed to accommodate children with physical health needs and are not specifically designed to help keep children and young people with mental health needs safe. This is the interim report from a national investigation looking at the risk factors associated with the design of paediatric wards in acute hospitals for children and young people with mental health needs.

• Report
• Press release

Healthcare in the Overseas Territories and access to UK care

House of Commons Library - 

The UK has 14 Overseas Territories (OTs), with a population of over 270,000. Ten of the Territories are permanently inhabited by British nationals. Healthcare is a responsibility of elected Territory Governments, though the UK does provide aid assistance to three Territories and allows for a limited number of Territory inhabitants to access free NHS care each year in the UK. This research briefing describes the healthcare systems in the Territories, the responsibilities of the UK Government towards them and the support it provides, and the challenges of delivering healthcare in small communities

• Briefing
• More detail

People's experience with thyroid disease: survey results

University of Aberdeen - 

One in twenty people in the UK have a thyroid problem, with women six times more likely to suffer from the condition than men. This survey of people with thyroid disorders was carried out to collect information on patients’ experience from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis/treatment and on the effects of thyroid disease, before and after diagnosis/treatment, on their wellbeing and labour market engagement.

• Report
• Press release

Community Network Survey on waiting times in children and young people's services

NHS Confederation - 

Leaders from 65 community provider organisations shared their views on waiting times in children and young people’s services. The findings show that despite the best efforts of community providers there are still concerning waits for children and young people’s services with significant impacts for children and families, and for staff morale.

• Report
• More detail

Data access policy update: proposed draft

Department of Health and Social Care -
In September 2022 the 12 policy guidelines for secure data environments was published. This policy update has been drafted to build on these guidelines, setting out key policy decisions made so far. The views and feedback gathered from this consultation will inform the final version of this policy update, as well as longer-term priorities and actions for data access policy. This policy update is intended for a technical audience, such as data controllers, data users and platform providers. The consultation closes on 23 June 2023.

• Consultation
• Department of Health and Social Care - consultations

The National Health Service Pension Scheme (Member Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

Department of Health and Social Care -
This report details the enhanced consultation process which set out proposals to uplift the member contribution tier thresholds in the NHS Pension Scheme in line with the Agenda for Change pay award for England.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Caring in a complex world: perspectives from unpaid carers and the organisations that support them

The King's Fund -
Unpaid carers – anyone who provides care, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support – play a key role in the health and care system. Caring can be a big commitment and carers themselves also need support with their own health and wellbeing. Yet, it’s also clear that carers are not always able to access the support they need. We set out to understand the current picture of local support available for unpaid carers in England. We looked at what evidence is available for different types of support, what carers and professionals involved in commissioning and delivering services for carers prioritise, and what are the barriers and facilitators of access to these different types of support.

• Report
• The King's Fund - publications

The case for more geriatricians: strengthening the workforce to care for an ageing population

British Geriatrics Society -
This report is intended to start the conversation about the workforce needed to provide high-quality care for the ageing population with increasingly complex needs. It explains why training, recruiting and retaining geriatricians should be a priority, estimates how many geriatricians are needed to provide safe and effective care for older people. It also outlines some of the structural barriers that currently prevent recruitment and concludes with six calls for governments across the UK.

• Report
• British Geriatrics Society - publications