Health Management and Policy Alert

How will we know if integrated care systems reduce demand for urgent care? Establishing fair benchmark levels for the blended payment system

The Strategy Unit - 

For the 2019/20 financial year the National Tariff Payment System (NTPS) for emergency care moved from a fee-for service arrangement to a blended payment system. The blended system encourages the provider to moderate activity growth by providing financial incentives for effective demand management. However there is currently scant detail surrounding crucial aspects of the NTPS scheme. Failure to address this issue may not only lead to the inappropriate distribution of resources across the health system; it could result in tens of millions of pounds being diverted away from urgent care.

• Report
• More detail

 

Better for women: improving the health and wellbeing of girls and women

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) - 

A survey of over 3,000 women commissioned by the RCOG found that women are struggling to access healthcare services locally. This is due to under-funding and fragmentation of sexual and reproductive healthcare services. This report recommends that one-stop women’s health clinics provide reproductive and sexual healthcare services – such as contraception, STI testing, cervical screening, and treatment and advice about the menopause – in one location and at one time to improve services for women and make savings for the NHS.

• Report
• Press release

 

Improving mental health services in systems of integrated and accountable care: emerging lessons and priorities

Royal College of Psychiatrists - 

This report sets out recommendations for local and national health and care leaders to support the prioritisation of mental health as local areas develop into integrated care systems (ICSs).

• Report
• Press release

 

Leading for integrated care: 'If you think competition is hard, you should try collaboration'

The King's Fund -
This report explores the progress, challenges and opportunities the move towards greater integration presents, through interviews with 16 people leading or chairing an integrated care system or sustainability and transformation partnership.

• Report
• The King's Fund - publications

Achieving integrated care: 15 best practice actions

Local Government Association (LGA) - 
This resource, produced in partnership with the Social Care Institute for Excellence, aims to support local systems in fulfilling their ambition of integration. The 15 actions prioritised in this resource draw on evidence about what works from international research, emerging best practices and engagement with our own stakeholders and partners. The actions are deliberately aligned with national policy, legal frameworks and regulatory guidance, but most important, they allow for local variety in system design and service delivery to flourish.

• Guidance

Integrated care: what physicians need to know about implementing the NHS long term plan

Royal College of Physicians - 

This guide outlines how doctors can best influence their local  integrated care system. It highlights some best practice and case studies, which we hope provide food for thought as to how clinicians may approach delivering more integrated health and care.

• Guide
• Press release

The NHS’s recommendations to government and parliament for an NHS bill

NHS England and NHS Improvement - 

The NHS long term plan included suggested changes to the law to help implement the plan. In spring 2019, NHS staff, partner organisations and interested members of the public were invited to give their views on the proposals. This document sets out the NHS response to the views it received during engagement and sets out its recommendations to government and parliament for an NHS bill. This bill could help deliver improved patient care by removing barriers and promoting collaboration between NHS organisations and their partners.

• Recommendations
• Press release

Holy alliances: church-secular partnerships for social good

Demos - 

This report (based on a survey of 120 church leaders, ten expert interviews and twelve case study interviews) shows that due to austerity, more churches are partnering with non-faith voluntary organisations to tackle local issues such as poverty, mental health and loneliness. Research shows that partnership working has led to a number of benefits including unlocking resources and funding, boosting impact, administrative support and assistance in targeting the right group.

• Report
• More detail

Achieving integrated care: 15 best practice actions

Local Government Association -
The 15 actions prioritised in this resource draw on evidence about what works from international research, emerging best practices and engagement with Local Government Association stakeholders and partners. The actions are aligned with national policy, legal frameworks and regulatory guidance but also allow for local variety in system design and service delivery.

• Report
• Local Government Association - publications

CCG 360 stakeholder survey 2018/19

NHS England - 
A central part of the CCG assessment process is the CCG 360 Stakeholder Survey, the findings of which are presented in this report. A key aim of the survey is to enable NHS England to assess whether CCGs are operating effectively in partnership with key organisations in the local health system to commission safe, high quality and sustainable services.

• Report