Health Management and Policy Alert

More harm than good: why more isn't always better with older people's medicines

Age UK -
This report calls for a more considered approach to prescribing medicines for our older population. It says too many older people in our society are on too many prescribed medicines, putting them at risk of side effects that in a worrying number of cases can lead to falls and a range of other serious harms. The report also provides evidence showing that prescribing more drugs isn’t always the best option, particularly when it comes to older people.

• Report
• Age UK - press release

Service user experience in adult mental health services

National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) - 
This quality standard covers improving the experience of people using adult NHS mental health services. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.

• Guidance

Patient experience in adult NHS services

National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) - 
This updated quality standard covers improving the quality of the patient experience for people who use adult NHS services. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.

• Guidance

Patient insights on cancer care: opportunities for improving efficiency

All.Can - 

Almost 4,000 cancer patients and caregivers from more than ten countries across the world responded to a survey to share their experiences of cancer care. While most reported that their needs were sufficiently addressed during their care, they highlighted some specific areas where they encountered inefficiency. From the responses, four key opportunities for improvement were identified: ensure swift, accurate and appropriately delivered diagnosis; improve information-sharing, support and shared decision-making; make integrated multidisciplinary care a reality for all patients; and address the financial impact of cancer.

• Report
• More detail

Involving patients and the public in research

THIS Institute -
This learning report aims to build a better understanding of the role of PPI in research, thereby helping ensure meaningful involvement that has tangible impacts and mitigate against undesired consequences.

• Report
• THIS Institute - publications

Involving patients and the public in research

Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute - 

This learning report aims to build a better understanding of the role of patient and public involvement (PPI) in research, thereby helping ensure meaningful involvement that has tangible impacts and mitigate against undesired consequences.

• Report
• More detail

Neuro patience: still waiting for improvements in treatment and care

The Neurological Alliance - 

This report presents the findings of the 2018/19 National Neurology Patient Experience Survey. The report covers three main themes – accessible, personalised and holistic care and support (which includes social care, mental health and financial security). Overall, the 2018/19 results show that people’s experiences remain poor.

• Report
• More detail

2018 adult inpatient survey: statistical release

Care Quality Commission - 

Findings from this latest annual survey of people who stayed as an inpatient in hospital show that most people had confidence in the doctors and nurses treating them and felt that staff answered their questions clearly. However, across the majority of questions asked in the survey there has been no improvement since it was last carried out, and this year’s results show an increase in those reporting lengthy delays, greater dissatisfaction with the amount of information provided when leaving hospital, and those who felt a lack of involvement in their care.

• Report
• Press release

Celebrate me: capturing the voices of learning disability nurses and people who use services

Foundation of Nursing Studies - 

The purpose of this initiative was to engage with nurses and people using services to gather evidence and demonstrate the impact of learning disability nursing, from experience, to help sustain its future. The outcomes from the extensive engagement have enabled us to highlight everything that there is to celebrate about learning disability nursing (the impact) and what needs to be championed for the future (to sustain it), from the voices of learning disability nurses and those of people with a learning disability and their families.

• Report
• More detail

NHS waiting times for elective and cancer treatment

Public Accounts Committee -
The NHS treats more and more people each year, and patients have a right to expect to receive treatment within the timescales set out by the NHS Constitution. This report finds that more and more patients are being let down by the NHS’s failure to meet deadlines for waiting times. The percentage of patients treated within waiting times standards continues to get worse for both elective (non-urgent care) and cancer treatment. The report finds that less than half of trusts meet the 18-week waiting times standard for elective treatment, and only 38 per cent meet the 62-day standard from referral to treatment for cancer patients.

• Report
• Public Accounts Committee - news