Health Management and Policy Alert

Funding health care in England: has the case been made for changing the NHS model?

Institute for Government -
This briefing outlines the calls for changes to the way health care is funded in England. Suggestions have included charging for GP appointments to a full switch to a social insurance model similar to that of France or Germany. It looks at how the NHS is currently funded and evaluates other ways of funding health care.

• Briefing
• Institute for Government - publications

Climate change and public health indicators: scoping review

UK Health Security Agency -
A review of indicators and data sources relevant for public health monitoring of climate change and health in England took place from spring 2021 to autumn 2022. A workshop with local authority stakeholders to inform the research was held in May 2021 with 57 participants, including public health professionals, emergency planning leads and sustainability and adaptation officers from local authorities across England. This report contains the results of the review.

• Report
• UK Health Security Agency - publications

Inclusive digital healthcare: a framework for NHS action on digital inclusion

NHS England -
This document builds on previous NHS Digital guidance on digital inclusion for health and social care. It should be used to help design and implement inclusive digital approaches and technologies, which are complementary to non-digital services and support.

• Framework
• NHS England - publications

Professional standards: framework for quality assurance and improvement

NHS England -
This framework aims to help responsible officers and organisations to provide assurance that their professional standards processes meet the relevant statutory requirements and support quality improvement. It includes three annexes which are illustrative templates showing the information and measures that organisations should produce and review.

• Framework
• NHS England - publications

Registered Midwife Degree Apprenticeship evaluation report

Royal College of Midwives -
This report sets out the findings of an evaluation of a workforce intervention that has not yet been extensively implemented across maternity services in the NHS. It describes how the Registered Midwife Degree Apprenticeship has the potential to increase the supply of labour in a sustainable way. It describes the benefits and costs that could be attributed to this way of educating registered midwives.

• Report
• Royal College of Midwives - publications

Public perceptions of health and social care: what are the priorities ahead of a general election?

The Health Foundation - 
This polling report from Ipsos and the Health Foundation shows the public wants additional investment in the NHS. Four out of five people (80 per cent) support additional funding for the NHS according to the survey. This includes a clear majority across the political spectrum, including among people planning to vote Labour (93 per cent), Liberal Democrat (90 per cent), Conservative (60 per cent) and ‘Other’ voters (66 per cent). Overall support has remained unchanged from November 2022, despite continuing concerns about the cost of living. It concludes that, with neither of the two main parties having yet committed to the future funding increases the NHS will need, the findings underline that the parties risk being out of step with public opinion.

• Briefing
• The Health Foundation - press release

Inequalities in mental health care for Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities: identifying best practice

NHS Race & Health Observatory -
This report addresses the lack of mental health care provision, despite the significant need, and captures first hand insight and good practice examples from six effective services. These services are mainly run by voluntary Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller organisations for members of these communities. It finds that, whilst shame, stigma and structural barriers contribute to a number of areas in which Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities experience health inequalities, this is worsened by a lack of granular data and tailored health services. Additionally, health care professionals do not always understand the communities’ needs or lifestyles. Mental health services are especially poor for these groups, and data shows a high number of suicides.

• Report
• NHS Race & Health Observatory - news

Waste not, want not: strategies to improve the supply of clinical staff to the NHS

Nuffield Trust -
For every five nurse training places, only three full-time nurses join the NHS. The rate of dropouts in the staffing pipeline from student to early-career clinician is high, with significant numbers opting out before or soon after joining the NHS, contributing to an understaffed health service under ever-greater strain. This analysis sets out the scale of NHS attrition and puts forward a ten point plan to improve retention, including a policy proposal to gradually write off clinicians' student debt over ten years.

Report

Nuffield Trust - press release

A mentally healthier nation: towards a ten-year, cross-government plan for better prevention, equality and support

Centre for Mental Health -
This report, published on behalf of over 30 national charities, sets out what a long-term government mental health plan for England could look like. It calls for action to tackle poverty and racial injustice, for reforms to the benefits and justice systems, and for further investment in better and more equitable mental health services. It draws on evidence provided to the UK Government’s consultation on its proposed ten-year plan to identify the actions that are necessary to protect people’s mental health, reduce mental health inequalities, and improve mental health services nationwide.

• Report
• Centre for Mental Health - press release

Unlocking the power of health beyond the hospital: supporting communities to prosper

NHS Confederation -
This report explores how investment in community care can improve system productivity as it relates to spend. It finds that acute health care spending between 2020/21 and 2021/22 grew faster than any other form of NHS spending, despite performance continuing to be challenged with pressure on A&E, beds and discharges. It concludes that responding to these pressures requires a more holistic understanding of system productivity.

• Report
• NHS Confederation - publications