Health Management and Policy Alert

Waiting for prosperity: modelling the economic benefits of reducing elective waiting lists in the NHS

Institute for Public Policy Research - 

This report (produced together with LCP Health Analytics) finds that getting people off waiting lists would bring benefits equivalent to £73 billion between now and 2027. The case for reducing waiting lists for non-emergency hospital treatment has historically been made with reference to the human cost but the report examines for the first time the diverse economic benefits of tackling the backlog, including putting a value on non-monetary benefits not included in traditional measures of economic output (GDP).

• Report
• Press release

2023 to 2024 financial directions to NHS England

Department of Health and Social Care -
This policy paper contains the government's financial directions to NHS England which sets out their budgets for 2023 to 2024.

• Policy paper
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Continuing to pay the price: the impact of prescription charges on people living with long term conditions

Prescription Charges Coalition (PCC) - 

A survey of more than 4,000 people with long-term conditions has found that having to pay for a prescription stops some people getting the medicines they need. The survey also showed people with long-term health conditions who cannot afford their medication are visiting their GPs and A&E more than before. There has also been an increase in hospital stays, mental health issues and time off work. The Prescription Charges Coalition brings together around 50 organisations and professional bodies to campaign to scrap prescription charges in England for people with long-term conditions

• Report
• More detail

Health care funding: three key questions about funding in England

Health Foundation - 

This analysis from the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre explores the latest health care funding figures for England, including how much funding has been committed, how it compares to historical levels and how it stacks up against what is needed to meet current pressures facing health services. The analysis is based on the March 2023 OBR economic forecast and Treasury figures on spending plans from 15 March 2023 (the Spring Budget 2023).

• Analysis

No more sticking plasters: repairing and transforming the NHS estate

NHS Providers - 
This report finds that the NHS' efforts to deliver national priorities including elective recovery and improvements in productivity are being put at risk because of a damaging lack of investment in buildings and facilities. It argues that major capital investment is crucial to enabling trusts to improve productivity, operational performance, and patient care across all sectors.

• Report
• Press release

Carbon reduction plan requirements for the procurement of NHS goods, services and works

NHS England - 

In April 2023, the NHS will require all suppliers of new contracts for goods, services, and/or works with an anticipated contract value above £5 million per year (excluding VAT) to publish a carbon reduction plan (CRP) for their emissions from the sources included in scope 1 and 2 of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, and a defined subset of scope 3 emissions, aligning with the government’s procurement policy note (PPN) 06/21: Taking account of CRPs in the procurement of major government contracts. This document outlines how this requirement will be applied in an NHS context and is intended to be used in conjunction with central government’s guidance documents on PPN 06/21.

• Guidance
• More detail

Department of Health and Social Care annual report and accounts: 2021-22

Department of Health and Social Care -
The annual report and accounts gives an overview of the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) resources and how it has used them to fulfil its statutory functions during the financial year 2021 to 2022. The report describes DHSC’s performance against objectives and includes the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s annual report on the performance of the NHS in England.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Independent health care and the NHS

The King's Fund - 
This briefing sets out some of the trends in public and private spending on independent sector health care providers. We consider what factors may be driving these trends, look at the impact this has on household spending among different groups, and consider some of the implications for the public and the NHS.

• Briefing
• The King's Fund - publications

 

Independent health care and the NHS

The King's Fund - 

In this briefing, The King's Fund sets out some of the trends in public and private spending on independent sector health care providers.

• Briefing

Consultation on 2023/25 NHS payment scheme and standard contract

NHS Providers - 

This briefing summarising the key points from NHS England's formal consultation on changes to the NHS payment scheme and standard contract.

• Briefing
• More detail