Health Management and Policy Alert

Research and development work relating to assistive technology: 2017–18

Department of Health and Social Care -
This report sets out government-funded projects supporting the development, introduction and evaluation of assistive technology. These projects aim to increase the independence or wellbeing of disabled and older people.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

A review of the fit and proper person test

Department of Health and Social Care -
This independent review, led by Tom Kark, investigates how effectively the test prevents unsuitable staff from being redeployed or re-employed in health and social care settings. It sets out seven recommendations, including: developing competencies for directors; making a central database of directors’ qualifications, training and appraisals; and expanding the definition of serious misconduct.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Does hospital competition reduce rates of patient harm in the English NHS?

Competition and Markets Authority - 

Previous hospital mergers have reduced the number of distinct organisations offering publicly funded and provided care in the English National Health Service, reducing choice and between-hospital competition in some areas. This working paper tests the impact of variation in concentration on a new quality indicator: the prevalence of patient harm from falls, pressure ulcers, blood clots and urinary tract infections. It exploits a new source of identifying variation accounting for the multi-product nature of hospitals, using instrumental variables to address endogeneity. It finds that hospital mergers in concentrated areas without offsetting clinical benefits could significantly increase rates of patient harm.

• Working paper
• More detail

Governance and accountability for integrated health and care

NHS Clinical Commissioners - 

This explainer for the NHS and local authorities, produced in association with the Centre for Public Scrutiny, outlines some of the key governance and accountability challenges that these organisations may face when seeking to work more collaboratively and potential solutions. It also highlights some of the key enablers from those systems that have already progressed on this journey and what they need to go further.

• Explainer
• Press release

 

Juggling work and unpaid care: a growing issue

Carers UK - 

This research reveals that 2.6 million have quit their job to care for a loved one who is older, disabled or seriously ill, with nearly half a million (468,000) leaving their job in the last two years alone - more than 600 people a day. This is a twelve per cent increase since Carers UK and YouGov polled the public in 2013. The findings also show that more people are caring than previously thought, with almost five million workers now juggling their paid job with caring – a dramatic rise compared with Census 2011 figures of three million. The research emphasises the need for UK employers to support the rapidly increasing number of staff with caring responsibilities to stay in the workforce.

• Report
• Press release

National Tariff Payment System 2019/20: a consultation notice

NHS Improvement - 

NHS Improvement, together with NHS England, are consulting on all aspects of their proposed 2019/20 national tariff. The consultation closes at midnight at the end of 21 February 2019.

• Consultation documents
• Response survey

Operating theatres: opportunities to reduce waiting lists

NHS Improvement - 

This report provides the insight to support clinicians, managers and hospital leaders to improve how care is delivered, and how theatre resources and clinical expertise can be best used. To assess the scale of the opportunity to improve theatre productivity, NHS Improvement commissioned Deloitte to analyse theatre productivity across England. 

• Report
• More detail

Universal personalised care: implementing the comprehensive model

NHS England -
Personalised care will benefit up to 2.5 million people by 2024, giving them the same choice and control over their mental and physical health that they have come to expect in every other aspect of their life. This document confirms how this will be implemented by 2023/24. It is the action plan for the rolling out personalised care across England.

• Guidance
• NHS England - publications

Cervical screening: implementation guide for primary HPV screening

Public Health England -
This guidance is to aid local providers of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme in implementing high-risk human papillomavirus testing. It includes information on: roles and responsibilities; service reconfiguration; screening tests; quality assurance; training; protocols for screening; protocols for referral to colposcopy; and centralisation of screening laboratories.

• Guidance
• Public Health England - publications

Investigation into the management of health screening

National Audit Office -
This report finds that the proportion of eligible adults receiving health screening is inconsistent across different areas in England and that services are not operating to the ‘agreed standards’. The investigation focusesd on: delivery of health screening programmes; performance of health screening programmes; oversight of health screening programmes; and progress in implementing change in screening programmes.

• Report
• Related documents
• National Audit Office - press release