Health Management and Policy Alert

Making the right choices: using data-driven technology to transform mental healthcare

Reform - 

This report examines the current landscape of data-driven technologies and their applications in mental health care, highlighting areas where these tools offer the most potential for the NHS and its patients. It discusses what makes mental health different from other areas of health, and the implications this has for the application of data-driven tools. It also examines barriers to implementation, and proposes ways to move forward.

• Report
• More detail

There is an alternative: ending austerity in the UK

Institute for Public Policy Research -
The global financial crisis of 2007/08 had a significant impact on the UK’s public finances. Since 2010/11, successive UK governments have chosen to impose a programme of austerity in an attempt to reduce the budget deficit. However, there is a growing consensus that austerity has failed economically, fiscally and socially. This report argues that the state must have a bigger role – and must invest more – in four ‘social deficits’, including health inequalities and mental health.

• Report
• Institute for Public Policy Research - publications

Depression in children and young people: identification and management

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) - 

This NICE guideline covers identifying and managing depression in children and young people aged 5 to 18 years. Based on the stepped-care model, it aims to improve recognition and assessment and promote effective treatments for mild and moderate to severe depression. The guideline is for healthcare professionals, commissioners and providers, and children and young people with depression and their families and carers. The guideline replaces CG28.

• Guideline
• More detail

The High Security Psychiatric Services (Arrangements for Safety and Security) Directions 2019

Department of Health and Social Care - 

These directions apply to providers of high security psychiatric services. They set out the requirements for providers to make sure they have robust arrangements for safety and security.

• Directions
• More detail

LGiU Homelessness Commission 2019: final report

Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) - 

The LGiU Local Government Homelessness Commission was set up to investigate how councils can fulfil their obligation to prevent homelessness. Their report is the first assessment of the state of homelessness prevention from the perspective of local government. It argues that the UK desperately needs a proper housing and homelessness strategy, that addresses the underlying causes and gives councils the powers and resources they need to carry it out.

• Report
• Press release

Rare jewels: specialised parent-infant relationship teams in the UK

Parent Infant Partnership UK - 

Parent-Infant teams provide expertise, training, supervision and support to help local services to improve early relationships for all babies. They also provide direct therapeutic support to those who need specialist help. Our research found only 27 of these teams exist in the UK. These teams have been described as ‘rare jewels’ because they are small, valuable but scarce. This research shows that NHS children and young people’s mental health commissioners are overlooking the needs of the youngest children. Forty-two per cent of areas in England do not accept referrals for children aged two and under even though commissioners should fund services for ALL children.

• Report
• Press release

Position statement on antidepressants and depression

Royal College of Psychiatrists - 

This position statement sets outs the Royal College of Psychiatrists' view on promoting optimal use and management of antidepressants. It discusses the challenges with prescribing antidepressants, including considering the evidence around efficacy, benefits and harms, ensuring they are used when clinically indicated and managing withdrawal. The statement includes range of recommendations aimed at the UK health departments, national bodies and commissioners.

• Position statement
• Press release

Learning Disability Mortality Review (LeDeR) programme: action from learning

NHS England - 
This report provides examples of the local changes that have been made to services so far and highlights the extensive work which is happening nationally in response to common themes raised through LeDeR reviews across the country.

• Report

Segregation in mental health wards for children and young people and in wards for people with a learning disability or autism

Care Quality Commission (CQC) -
This is the interim report of a review commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the use of restraint, prolonged seclusion and segregation for people with a mental health problem, a learning disability or autism. It calls for an independent review of every person who is being held in segregation in mental health wards for children and young people and wards for people with a learning disability or autism. These reviews should examine the quality of care, the safeguards to protect the person and the plans for discharge.

• Report
• Press release

Parity of esteem: delivering physical health equality for those with serious mental health needs

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) - 
This report gives an overview of the work the RCN is doing to address the mortality gap between people with serious mental illness and the rest of the population as well as our work towards establishing parity of esteem between mental and physical health. 

• Report
• RCN publications