Health Management and Policy Alert

Clinical engagement and collaboration: Newcastle Gateshead CCG

NHS Clinical Commissioners - 

The Core Cities Network is a peer-led network representing clinical commissioning groups from the eight core cities in England outside London – Nottingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Bristol, Newcastle, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. This case study explores the value of clinical engagement and collaboration, as well as the challenges and benefits from working across different geographies.

• Case study
• Core Cities Network

Understanding the performance and potential of specialist hospitals

UCLPartners - 

This report, produced together with the Innovation Agency, outlines how high-performing specialist trusts have the potential to do more to benefit the wider NHS. A review of around one-third of England’s 21 specialist trusts looked at why they consistently score higher than their counterparts in ratings for performance and satisfaction. The review recommends seven ways in which local systems can benefit more widely from the role of specialist trusts.

• Report
• Press release

Medical CCT class of 2016: survey 2017: how have they fared?

Royal College of Physicians -

Published jointly with the the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, this is the ninth annual survey reporting the experiences of and outcomes for certificate of completion of training (CCT) holders within one year of gaining their CCT. For several years in a row it has found  that CCT holders who describe themselves as being of white British ethnicity apply for fewer posts, but are more likely to be shortlisted and offered a post. Black and minority ethnic (BME) women appear to be particularly disadvantaged.

• Report
• Press release

Prevention is better than cure: our vision to help you live well for longer

Department of Health and Social Care - 

The document sets out the government’s vision for stopping health problems from arising in the first place and supporting people to manage their health problems when they do arise. The goal is to improve healthy life expectancy by at least five extra years, by 2035, and to close the gap between the richest and poorest.

• Report
• More detail
• Press release

A fair, supportive society: summary report

Institute of Health Equity - 

This report, commissioned by NHS England, highlights that some of the most vulnerable people in society – those with learning disabilities – will die 15-20 years sooner on average than the general population. Much of the government action needed to improve life expectancy for people with disabilities is likely to reduce health inequalities for everyone. The report recommends that action should focus on the ‘social determinants of health’, particularly addressing poverty, poor housing, discrimination and bullying.

• Report
• Press release

A society of readers

Demos - 

Demos carried out research over the summer of 2018 to assess the potential impact of reading on several great challenges of our time: loneliness, mental health problems, dementia and social (im)mobility.

• Report
• Press release

All parents should be offered the opportunity to engage with the review of their baby’s death

University of Bristol - 

When a baby dies in hospital, a Perinatal Mortality Review (PNMR) takes place. Currently, parents are largely unaware these reviews even take place and in most cases, bereaved parents are not given the opportunity to be involved and share their perspective of their care. This PARENTS study tested the hypothesis at two UK hospitals (Bristol and Manchester) that involving parents would have the potential to answer parents’ questions and therefore support them in grieving, drive patient safety improvements, and promote an open culture within healthcare.

• Report
• More detail

How should health policy respond to the growing challenge of multimorbidity?

University of Bristol - 

There is growing awareness internationally of the increasing number of people living with multiple long-term health conditions, known as multimorbidity. Health services, including the NHS, need to adapt to address this challenge. This policy report discusses the issue of multimorbidity, and offers a summary of recommendations.

• Report
• Press release

Workplace culture at Southwestern Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust

UNISON -
This report, based on a staff survey and interviews, was jointly commissioned by UNISON and the ambulance trust. It follows a succession of serious complaints and grievances about the behaviour of managers and other employees at the ambulance service. The report found no evidence of a culture of bullying across the service, but says there were definite problem hotspots.

• Report
• UNISON - press release

“Windrush Generation” guidance for NHS staff and other providers of NHS funded secondary and community care services

Department of Health and Social Care -
Eligibility for NHS-funded secondary care is mainly based on lawful, settled residence in the UK. This document specifically considers the ‘Windrush generation’. That is, the Commonwealth citizens who settled in the UK before 1 January 1973 and those who arrived to live here between 1973 and 1988.

• Guidance
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications