Health Management and Policy Alert

Health and social care: the first 100 days of the new government

The King's Fund -
After 100 days in office, the new government's plans for health and social care are beginning to take shape. We take a look at the measures that have been outlined so far and focus on financial control and productivity; devolution; quality and safety; primary care; seven-day services; mental health and learning disabilities; public health; social care; patient engagement; leadership; and regulation.

• Read our verdict 

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)

House of Commons Library - 
This briefing provides information on the background, negotiation process and controversial points of the proposed EU-US free trade agreement, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

• Briefing
• House of Commons Library briefings

Improving GP services: commissioners and patient choice

Monitor -
The report presents the findings of a review into how GP services are working for patients, with a specific focus on the role of choice and competition. The review drew on a variety of sources of evidence; a commissioned survey of 3,200 patients, interviews with 25 GP providers and spoke to and gathered information from NHS England, CQC and other stakeholders.

• Report
• Associated documentation
• Press release

Hospital competition improves performance

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) - 
This report shows that hospital competition can improve healthcare by improving the quality of management practices. The research measured the management quality of 100 public hospitals through a management survey of clinicians and managers, and used data published by the government to assess the performance of NHS hospitals in England.

• Report
• Briefing
• Press release

A better plan for the NHS, health and care

Labour Party - 
This health manifesto outlines the Labour Party pledges for the NHS and health and care system. It makes commitments to supporting the implementation of integrated care, capping private provider profits and improving access to services.

• Manifesto
• Press release

The NHS under the coalition government - part 1: NHS reform

The King's Fund - 
A major assessment of the coalition government's record on NHS reform by The King's Fund concludes that the upheaval caused by the Health and Social Care Act has been damaging and distracting. The new report highlights some positive developments as a result of the Act including closer involvement of GPs in commissioning services, giving local authorities responsibility for public health and the establishment of health and wellbeing boards. However, it criticises the decision to implement complex organisational changes at a time when the NHS should have been focused on tackling growing pressures on services and an unprecedented funding squeeze.

• Report
• General Election 2015 content
• Press release

Commissioning through competition and cooperation: interim report

Policy Research Unit in Commissioning and the Healthcare System (PRUComm) - 
This project investigates how commissioners in local health systems manage the interplay of competition and cooperation in their local health economies, looking at acute and community health services. This interim report focuses on commissioners’ and providers’ respective understandings of the policy and regulatory environment in which they operate.

• Report
• PRUComm publications

Markets for good: the next generation of public service reform

Reform - 
This paper discusses the need for a reform of public services in Britain and calls for a move away from the contracting-based model to one of licencing and payment by results. It argues that moving towards a licencing model would create a more open system and would help to drive competition.

• Report
• Reform publications

Anticipated pathology joint venture between Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Integrated Pathology Partnership Limited

Monitor -
This advice relates to an anticipated pathology joint venture as part of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) case.

• Advice
• CMA investigation
• Monitor - publications

False or misleading information: a consultation on the application of the offence by regulations

Department of Health (DH) - 
The Care Bill 2014 will make it a criminal offence for a healthcare provider to supply or publish false or misleading information. This consultation seeks views on: whether the suggested types of information should fall within the reach of the offence; and whether the proposed list captures the information that is important to the public, commissioners and regulators.

• Consultation document
• Respond
  
• DH news