Health Management and Policy Alert

Gendered experiences of obesity: narrowing gender gaps in prevention and treatment

Social Market Foundation - 

This report explores gendered experiences of obesity in the UK , examining how obesity rates differ between men and women, the drivers of these trends and the extent to which policy aimed at reducing obesity rates needs to be gender specific.

• Report
• Press release

Nowhere else to turn: exploring high intensity use of accident and emergency services

British Red Cross - 

People who frequently attend accident and emergency (A&E) a make up less than one per cent of the population, but account for a significant proportion of all A&E attendances, ambulance journeys and hospital admissions. It is estimated they cost the NHS at least £2.5bn per year. This report explores the profile and experiences of people who frequently attend A&E and considers what needs to be done to ensure that more people can be supported in the community, before they reach a crisis that leads to the door of the emergency department. It shows the clear link between high intensity use and wider inequalities.

• Report
• More detail

Understanding vaccine hesitancy through communities of place

Institute for Community Studies - 

This UK-US collaborative study highlights the importance of tapping into local knowledge and leadership in efforts to improve Covid-19 vaccine take-up. Produced together with the Institute for Community Research and Boston University in the United States, the study explores levels of vaccine engagement in four locations: Oldham and Tower Hamlets in the UK, and the cities of Boston and Hartford in the US. In all four localities, the survey finds the authorities’ ‘top-down’ approach to vaccine distribution and education has been ineffective, and that applying a ‘community engagement approach’ instead –involving community groups and trusted leaders in vaccine distribution and education – can improve take-up rates.

• Report
• Press release

English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR): report 2020 to 2021

UK Health Security Agency -
The English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR) report sets a standard to compare antimicrobial use and resistance in successive years. This report includes national data on antibiotic prescribing and resistance, antimicrobial stewardship implementation, and awareness activities.

• Report
• UK Health Security Agency - publications

Levelling up men’s health: the case for a men’s health strategy

Men's Health Forum - 

Across the UK, men’s mental and physical health is unacceptably poor – with around one man in five dying before the age of 65. Covid has worsened the situation with completely disproportionate effects amongst men. Many services are failing to reach men in time, especially working-age men, even though there are ever more examples of how services can be designed to reach and engage men more effectively. The lesson from other countries is that introducing a men’s health strategy alongside the government’s planned women’s health strategy can change this. This document lays out the case for change.

• Document
• More detail

No one’s listening: an inquiry into the avoidable deaths and failures of care for sickle cell patients in secondary care

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia (SCTAPPG) -

This report, jointly published with the Sickle Cell Society, has found “serious care failings” in acute services and evidence of attitudes underpinned by racism. These concerns have led to a fear and avoidance of hospitals for many people living with sickle cell. The report includes a number of recommendations and the APPG is calling on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement to prioritise taking urgent action. 

• Report
• Press release

Money talks: investing in proactive health measures to support healthy ageing

International Longevity Centre UK (ILC UK) - 

It is known that proactive (preventative health interventions and health promotion) health measures work, are cost-effective, and can save lives. However cross the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), on average countries spend just 2.8 per cent of their health budgets on these interventions. In this report, with ILC-Canada, Canada is used as a case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of spending on prevention and health promotion. Canada spends more of its health budget on proactive health measures than any other country in the OECD – at six per cent, it’s more than double the OECD average, which has contributed to positive outcomes.

• Report
• Press release

 

Identifying the gap: understanding the drivers of inequality in public health

Deloitte -
This report aims to provide insights into the historical challenges and approaches taken to tackle the problems affecting public health. Key findings include the need for: longer-term funding and commissioning cycles, investment in the public health workforce; and for public health to be recognised and valued as an integral part of the integrated care system.

• Report
• Deloitte - publications

Narrowing the gap: a fairer and sustainable future for public health

Deloitte -
This report examines the current challenges and future requirements for a resilient public health system in the UK. It finds that the pandemic has exposed the impact of health inequalities and a lack of progress in addressing the social determinants of health as well as shortcomings in public health funding. It supports action to improve public health and narrow the inequalities gap and optimise the link between health and productivity.

• Report
• Deloitte - publications

The cost of poor housing in England

BRE Group -
This briefing paper quantifies the cost burden to the NHS caused by hazards arising from poor quality homes in England. Findings reveal that 2.6 million homes in England – eleven per cent of the country’s housing stock – are categorised as ‘poor quality’ and therefore hazardous to occupants. Most common hazards are those that cause injuries on stairs, while the costliest issue for the NHS (£857million p/a) is poor quality housing leading to excess cold.

• Report
• BRE Group - press release