Health Management and Policy Alert

Patients’ views on making best use of GP premises

Patients Association - 

Poor confidentiality at reception desks, issues with access for disabled people and dated waiting rooms are some of the biggest problems highlighted by patients in this report of people’s views of their local GP surgery’s buildings.

• Report
• Press release

 

Personal health budgets mandatory data collection: guidance and data

NHS England -
These documents provide information for all CCGs in England regarding the completion of the mandatory personal health budgets data collection being implemented on a quarterly basis from July 2018 onwards.

• Guidance and data

What matters most: Healthwatch England annual report 2017–18

Healthwatch - 
This report calls on services to listen to what matters most to people when it comes to their care and on the public to keep speaking up. It finds that despite pressures, some people continue to receive outstanding care, much of which, they say, is down to the dedication shown by the staff who keep things running. However, many others struggle to get the support they need, with some services failing to deliver the basics.

• Report
• Press release

Making sure people seeking and refused asylum can access healthcare: what needs to change?

Equality and Human Rights Commission -
This research explores the experiences of people who are or have been in the asylum process in Britain, as well as engaging with healthcare professionals and analysing existing research. It finds that cost and fears about how they will be treated, or consequences for their immigration status, are preventing people seeking or refused asylum from using health services. It calls for greater separation of the immigration and healthcare systems.

• Report
• Equality and Human Rights Commission - news

Community mental health survey 2018

Care Quality Commission -
This survey looks at the experiences of people receiving community mental health services. It finds that people’s experiences of the care they receive from community-based mental health services have continued to deteriorate. It highlights concerns around access to care, care planning and support for people with mental health conditions in relation to physical health needs, financial advice or benefits.

• Reports and supporting documents
• Care Quality Commission - press release

Patient and service user experience: quality standard consultation

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence -
This consultation outlines proposals to refresh the quality standards for service user experience in adult mental health services and patient experience in adult NHS services. The closing date for comments is 7 December 2018.

• Consultation summary report
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence - consultations

Shifting the centre of gravity: making place-based, person-centred health and care a reality

Local Government Association -
The examples in this report aim to show what can be achieved by system leaders and staff from local government, the NHS, the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, and service user and carer groups working together to improve health and deliver person-centred care.

• Report
• Local Government Association - publications

Outpatients: the future – adding value through sustainability

Royal College of Physicians (RCP) - 
This report argues that a new approach to outpatient care is needed if it is to meet growing demand and reduce disruption to patients’ lives. It describes the current ‘one-size-fits-all’ model as no longer fit for purpose and recommends replacing it with a person-centred approach that recognises that people have varying health needs, personal pressures and abilities to self-care or manage.

• Report
• 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

End of life care: strengthening choice

All-Party Parliamentary Group for Children Who Need Palliative Care - 

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Children Who Need Palliative Care has been examining the extent to which the government is meeting its end of life care choice commitment to babies, children and young-people with life-limiting conditions and their families. Despite the commitment – which outlines six ways ministers believe that people approaching the end of their lives should be supported – the APPG has heard evidence from young people, families, services and professionals that the quality of palliative care children and families can access is patchy and depends on where in England they live.

• Report
• Press release