Health Management and Policy Alert

Integrated care systems in London: challenges and opportunities ahead

The King's Fund - 

Commissioned by the Greater London Authority, this report looks at how the five integrated care systems in London were developing before Covid-19 and how this has changed as a result of the response to the pandemic. 

• Report
• Blog
• Press release

Establishing the National Institute for Health Protection

House of Commons Library - 
In the summer of 2020, the Department of Health and Social Care announced the establishment of the National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP). The NIHP  brings together the health protection and resilience functions of Public Health England, the Joint Biosecurity Centre and NHS Test and Trace. This briefing looks at what is known so far about the new body and reaction from the health sector, ahead of it being formally established in spring 2021.

• Briefing

The future of adult social care

County Councils Network (CCN) - 
This report argues that a new blueprint for delivering social care in England could help tens of thousands of adults each year who need care and support to live more independent lives – if councils are given the ability to reshape services through the government’s long-awaited reforms. It warns that this model can only be delivered if councils are given the clarity of a long-term funding model for care, due to be outlined in the government’s long–awaited green paper, and remain under local democratic control.

• Report
• Press release

The health of people from ethnic minority groups in England

The King's Fund - 
This explainer examines the differences in health outcomes for ethnic minority groups, highlighting the variation across groups and conditions, and considers what’s needed to reduce health inequalities.

• Long read

Inclusion health self-assessment tool for primary care networks

VCSE Health & Wellbeing Alliance  - 
This online tool aims to help primary care networks (PCNs) to assess their engagement with inclusion health groups. These are the groups identified as experiencing the worst health inequalities in the UK. The tool will provide a unique and tailored guide which will help PCNs to embed action on tackling health inequalities into their everyday activities.

• Online tool

Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices

General Medical Council (GMC) -
This updated guidance sets out standards for good practice when prescribing remotely and face to face, when prescribing unlicensed medicines, and for when patient care is shared with another doctor. The update includes specific advice for doctors prescribing remotely with patients in nursing homes or hospices, and patients who are based overseas.

• Guidance
• Press release

Supporting the LGBTQ+ population through COVID-19 and beyond

NHS Confederation - 
Leaders from across the healthcare system agree that for the LGBTQ+ population to recover and thrive after the pandemic, the way services are designed and delivered, and the workforce environments they are delivered in, must change. This report sets out a series of recommendations to help healthcare leaders, service designers and commissioners ensure their services and workplaces meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ population

• Report
• Press release

Resource allocation in public sector programmes: does the value of a life differ between governmental departments?

Office of Health Economics (OHE) - 
This report examines whether there are differences in the value of life estimates recommended for use across government departments in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the Netherlands, and the UK. The departments of interest were those known to use some form of valuation of human life: health, social care, transport, and environment. For each country, a literature review was conducted to identify evidence from technical reports, guidelines, and tools published directly by government departments indicating methods for conducting impact assessments or appraisals.

• Report
• Summary

What's next for the NHS? Building the resilience of the health and care system

Reform - 
A year into the pandemic and with the benefit of some hindsight, this report argues that too little consideration was given to the implications of a complete reallocation of resources away from ‘business as usual’. This report, produced jointly with Edge Health, explores the scale of the challenges the NHS faces following the pandemic.

• Report
• Summary

The impact of Covid-19 on the lives of Latin American migrants

Indoamerican Refugee and Migrant Organisation (IRMO) - 

This report reveals the intersecting crises of rising unemployment, abusive employment practices, inadequate housing and increasing food poverty facing the Latin American community. This is compounded by digital exclusion and the language barrier, meaning that many find it difficult to access mainstream support. The lack of access to basic healthcare raises concerns about the roll out of the vaccine among the community.

• Report
• More detail