Health Management and Policy Alert

How do the public and NHS staff feel about virtual wards?

Health Foundation - 

In March 2023 the Health Foundation commissioned a survey of 7,100 nationally representative members of the public (age 16 years and older) and 1,251 NHS staff members to find out how supportive they are of virtual wards and what they think is important for making sure they work well. The analysis suggests that while the UK public is on balance supportive of virtual wards, a lack of understanding of the term may be holding back public support for them.

• Analysis
• Press release

Transformative, not tokenistic: the patient voice in integrated care systems

NHS Confederation - 

This long read explores how the patient voice can embedded into system working in a meaningful and transformative way.

• Long read

Cancelled care research

Healthwatch England - 

Healthwatch England commissioned a survey of 1084 people who have seen their NHS care either cancelled or postponed this year to understand the extent of disruption to care amid rising waiting lists, workforce issues, and industrial action, and other pressures on the NHS. The research highlights that these pressures have serious consequences on people's lives and widen health inequalities.

• Report
• More detail

Transfer of care

Professional Record Standards Body - 

The information record standard for e-discharge (DAPB 4042) was first published in 2015. Despite significant investment in programme initiatives on transfers of care (e-discharge plus outpatient letters and discharge from emergency departments and mental health inpatient units) since publication, the widespread adoption and achievement of the anticipated benefits of standardised discharge summaries across the system remains disappointingly low. This review identified the challenges that have inhibited widespread adoption of the e-discharge and
delivery of the anticipated benefits.

• Report
• More detail

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan explained

The King's Fund -
On 30 June 2023, the NHS long term workforce plan was published, setting out the long-term strategic direction for the NHS workforce in England. In this explainer, we set out the main commitments in the plan and provide our view of what they might mean, highlighting the opportunities and challenges for the health care system as the plan is put into practice.

• The King's Fund - publications

Not by choice: the unequal impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on disempowered ethnic minority and migrant communities

Doctors of the World - 
This report argues that too many of the policy decisions that were made during the Covid-19 health emergency either did not understand the evidence on inequality or ignored it, and that this was particularly true for ethnic minorities and migrants.

• Report
• Doctors of the World - news

Made in communities: the national evaluation of the Better Mental Health Fund

Centre for Mental Health -
The Better Mental Health Fund was set up by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities in 2021 to address mental health challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. Funding for public mental health was given to local authorities in 40 of the most disadvantaged areas of England, which experience higher rates of mental ill health, and used to run 314 projects. This evaluation report finds that the Fund enabled local councils to support a wide range of activities to promote mental health, covering a spectrum of preventative and support-based interventions and projects for the general population.

• Report
• Centre for Mental Health - publications

Postvention guidance: supporting NHS staff after the death by suicide of a colleague

University of Surrey -
This guidance was developed with the input of NHS staff affected by a colleague's death by suicide and those who have provided support to staff affected by suicide. Staff members across a wide range of job roles and levels of seniority shared their experiences and insight as part of a nationwide study which aimed to understand the impact of colleague suicide on NHS staff.

• Guidance
• University of Surrey - research projects

The future of general practice: Government response to the Committee’s fourth report

Health and Social Care Select Committee -
The Government has accepted or partially accepted the majority of recommendations made by the Committee in its Future of General Practice report, published in 2022. Ministers accepted outright: the need to ensure that trainee GPs are distributed across the country to support areas facing the greatest challenges in ensuring access to a GP; the need to simplify how patients interact with the NHS with improved access; increased organisational support for GPs with a focus on back-office functions. However, the Government rejected a number of measures set out by MPs that were intended to restore the doctor-patient relationship.

• Report
• Health and Social Care Select Committee - news

Maternal mental health: a briefing for integrated care systems

Maternal Mental Health Alliance -
This briefing aims to help integrated care systems (ICSs) understand the role they have in ensuring every new and expectant mother receives the right mental health support at the right time, close to home. It finds that, if untreated, maternal mental health problems can cost an average-sized ICS the equivalent of £190 million per year. The briefing outlines why maternal mental health is important and explains the steps ICSs can take to provide the right support. It also suggests ten key areas in need of immediate action: universal services; NHS talking therapies; specialist perinatal mental health services; inpatient services; maternal mental health services; voluntary and community sector support; family hubs; baby loss support; tackling stigma; and reducing loneliness and isolation.

• Briefing
• Maternal Mental Health Alliance - news