Health Management and Policy Alert

Shifting the mindset: a closer look at hospital complaints

Healthwatch England -

There has been some positive change in the years following the Mid Staffordshire Inquiry to improve openness and transparency in the NHS. Yet when it comes to complaints, many hospitals are too focused on process rather than demonstrating how they’ve listened.

• Report
• More detail

General Dental Council patient and public research: report 2018–19

Ipsos MORI - 

This report contains the findings of a quantitative survey of the general public carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the General Dental Council (GDC). The research comprised a survey, in-depth interviews and a deliberative workshop. The objectives of the research were to: track how opinions may have changed against a set of baseline questions that were asked in the previous surveys; capture and compare public and patient awareness and perceptions of the GDC, its performance and impact in fulfilling its regulatory roles and responsibilities; obtain public and patient insight into key policy initiatives being developed by the GDC; test public views and understanding of topical or current issues in dentistry/dental regulation; and identify emerging policy issues that are relevant to the GDC.

• Report
• More detail

General election 2019 polling for the Health Foundation: public perceptions of the NHS and social care

The Health Foundation -
This Ipsos MORI survey was commissioned by the Health Foundation for the 2019 General Election. It suggests that people are willing to pay more tax to maintain and improve health and social care. The public also highlighted a lack of investment in the NHS and long waiting times as the top issues facing the health service, followed by an insufficient and overworked workforce.

• Report
• The Health Foundation - publications

Estimating need in older people: findings for England

Age UK -
This report outlines how ill health, poverty, unmet needs for care and support, poor housing, loneliness and social isolation are profound challenges for many older people. It estimates the numbers and percentages of people aged 65 and over in England with these disadvantages, and collates insights from older people’s own voices about the experience of living with them.

• Report
• Age UK - publications

Type 2 diabetes peer mentor programme: midterm evaluation

Brigstowe - 
This report outlines the findings so far from an interim evaluation of a peer mentoring service for people living with type 2 diabetes. The programme builds on Brigstowe's model of peer mentoring for people diagnosed with HIV and aimed to see if similar wellbeing and health outcomes could be achieved when transferring the model to other long-term health conditions.

• Report
• Further information

The political division index: pathfinding for British democracy

Demos -
This report looks to test the idea of a divided nation in order to find a path to a better public debate after Brexit. It maps the quality of the political debate as perceived by British voters on ten current political issues, including the NHS and climate change.

• Report
• Demos - projects

A descriptive analysis of health care use by high cost, high need patients in England

The Health Foundation -
This paper explores health care use by the top 5 per cent of users of primary and secondary care services by cost.

• Report
• The Health Foundation - publications

2018 urgent and emergency care survey statistical release

Care Quality Commission - 

This survey looked at people’s experiences of using Type 1 (major A&E) and Type 3 (urgent care centres, minor injury units, urgent treatment centres) urgent and emergency care services, from decision to attend to leaving. One hundred and thirty two trusts took part in the survey, of which 63 trusts had both a Type 1 and a Type 3 department, and 69 trusts had only a Type 1 A&E. The survey only includes Type 3 departments that are run directly by acute trusts, and not those run in collaboration with, or exclusively by others.

• Report
• More detail

Health and social care and LGBT Communities

Women and Equalities Committee - 

This report finds that too often LGBT people are expected to fit into systems that assume they are straight and cisgender. But the Committee has found that deep inequalities exist in health outcomes for these communities and that treating them “the same” as non-LGBT people will not address these poor outcomes.

• Report
• Press release

Get it on time: the case for improving medication management for Parkinson’s

Parkinson's UK - 

This report highlights problems that people with Parkinson's disease can face receiving their medication when having a hospital stay. These findings include: nearly two thirds of people who have Parkinson’s don’t always get their medication on time in hospital; more than three quarters of people with Parkinson’s asked reported that their health deteriorated as a result of poor medication management in hospital; and only 21 per cent of respondents said they got their medication on time without having to remind hospital staff. The report sets out recommendations hospitals should implement to improve medication management.

• Report
• Press release