Health Management and Policy Alert

Covid-19: assessing the risk to public protection posed by a doctor as a result of concerns about their practice during the pandemic

General Medical Council -
This guidance details how to take the context created by Covid-19 into account when considering complaints about doctors. It means that, in line with the General Medical Council's normal practice, concerns about doctors will be considered in the context of the pandemic and, in certain circumstances and where there are no risks to patients or to public confidence, some issues might not put into question a doctor’s fitness to practice.

• Guidance
• General Medical Council - news

Women’s lives, women’s rights: strengthening access to contraception beyond the pandemic

All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Sexual and Reproductive Health (APPG SRH) - 

The APPG SRH opened this inquiry in 2019, in response to reports of women being unable to access contraception in a way that meets their needs. Evidence submissions were reopened in May 2020 in order to examine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on women's access to contraception. The report finds that women in England are facing difficulty in accessing contraception, with many being bounced from service to service, which can result in more unplanned pregnancies and increased demand for maternity and abortion care. The APPG SRH states that the national reorganisation of public health is an opportunity to tackle funding and commissioning challenges in sexual and reproductive healthcare.

• Report
• More detail

Covid-19: what people are telling us

Healthwatch England -
This briefing looks at the key issues the public have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, ranging from the affect lockdown has had on carers, to the problems getting emergency dental treatment.

• Briefing
• Healthwatch England - news

Wellcome monitor 2020: Covid-19 study

Wellcome -
This report presents the results of the fifth Wellcome monitor. It looks at findings around the British public’s experience of the Covid-19 pandemic and their views on health information during lockdown.

• Report
• Wellcome - publications

The experience of people approaching later life in lockdown

Centre for Ageing Better - 

This report, produced together with Ipsos MORI, looks at the impact lockdown has had on those aged 50-70, revealing dramatic changes to people’s lives and their plans for the future.  

• Report
• Press release

Cancer patient experience survey 2020: the impact of Covid-19 on cancer patients in the UK

Cancer Research UK - 

The findings from this year's survey indicate the impact of Covid-19 on cancer patients, and their testing, treatment and care. For many cancer patients the Covid-19 pandemic appears to have had a significant impact on their testing and treatment, and most notably their care. This has resulted in a negative impact on the emotional well-being of many cancer patients whether they were hoping to finish their treatment, find out the results of their test, have their regular screening, or continue with care that could support them, in some cases for the remainder of their life. 

• Report
• Press release

The Dr will Zoom you now: getting the most out of the virtual health and care experience

National Voices - 

Remote consultations and the use of technology offer some great opportunities to make significant improvements to general practice, hospital outpatient and mental health appointments, but making the most of this opportunity means understanding the patient experience. This report was a rapid, qualitative research study designed to understand the patient experience of remote and virtual consultations. The project was led in partnership with Traverse and Healthwatch England.

• Report
• More detail

Being a patient

The Patients Association - 

This is the first report from the Patients Association programme of work on patient experience. It suggests that it is time for a fresh look at patient experience. While there is considerable activity in the health and care system devoted to measuring patient experience, the approach is quite narrow and doesn’t truly capture things from the patient’s point of view.

• Report
• More detail

Preparing for a challenging winter 2020/21

Academy of Medical Sciences - 

This report states that the UK must prepare now for a potential new wave of coronavirus infections this winter that could be more serious than the first. It stresses that ‘intense preparation’ is urgently needed throughout the rest of July and August to reduce the risk of the health service being overwhelmed and to save lives this winter. The accompanying People's perspective report calls for these actions to be developed through engagement with patients, carers and the public to ensure services, guidelines and communications work for people, rather than focusing plans on individual medical conditions.

• Report
• People's perspective
• Press release

GP Patient Survey: national report 2020

NHS England - 

The GP Patient Survey (GPPS) is an England-wide survey, providing GP practice level data about patients’ experiences of general practice. Ipsos MORI administers the survey on behalf of NHS England. This report sets out the national headline and summary findings for the 2020 GPPS publication. For 2020 some additional analysis has been completed that looks at the impact of Covid-19 on the survey results.

• Report
• Press release