Health Management and Policy Alert

MBRRACE-UK perinatal mortality surveillance report: UK perinatal deaths for births from January to December 2019

MBRRACE-UK -
The results indicate that whilst perinatal deaths in the UK are declining – with the rate of stillbirths across the UK reducing by over 20 per cent from 2013 to 2019 – there are key areas which need to be prioritised. The research shows an urgent need to improve care for mothers and babies from Black and Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, and care for those living in more deprived areas.

• Report
• MBRRACE-UK - publications

UKHSA review into IPC guidance

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) - 

The UKHSA has recommended three pragmatic changes that hospitals can make to the current management of coronavirus (Covid-19) infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, with a focus on elective care. These initial recommendations include three interventions which relate to social distancing and testing in NHS and Social Care elective care services, and cleaning practices: a reduction of physical distancing from two metres to one metre with appropriate mitigations where patient access can be controlled; removing the need for a negative PCR and three days self-isolation before selected elective procedures as currently advised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); and re-adopting standard rather than enhanced cleaning procedures.

• Guidance
• Press release

Good for you, good for us, good for everybody: a plan to reduce overprescribing to make patient care better and safer, support the NHS, and reduce carbon emissions

Department of Health and Social Care -
This report contains the findings and recommendations of the national overprescribing review led by Dr Keith Ridge, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England. The review sets out a series of practical and cultural changes to ensure patients are receiving the most appropriate treatment for their needs while ensuring clinicians’ time is well spent and taxpayer money is spent wisely. This includes better use of technology, how to review prescriptions more effectively, and how to offer alternatives to medicines where they would be more effective.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - press release

The Government’s response to the Health and Social Care Committee report: safety of maternity services in England

Department of Health and Social Care -
The Health and Social Care Committee (HSCC) published a report in July 2021 containing 15 recommendations for improving the safety of maternity services, covering issues such as staffing, patient safety and personalised care. This report contains the government response to these recommendations.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

The Government’s response to the Health and Social Care Committee’s Expert Panel Evaluation: the Government’s progress against its policy commitments in the area of maternity services in England

Department of Health and Social Care -
The expert panel evaluated the following government commitments on maternity services: maternity safety, continuity of carer, personalised care and safe staffing. They rated the government’s progress against each of these commitments using a ‘Care Quality Commission-style’ rating. The government welcomes this report and is considering the panel’s findings carefully as part of ongoing policy development.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Safety, equity and engagement in maternity services

Care Quality Commission -
This report highlights continued concern about the variation in the quality and safety of England’s maternity services and calls for improvements to be prioritised to ensure safer care for all mothers and babies. It draws on the findings from a sample of nine focused maternity safety inspections carried out between March and June 2021, along with insight gathered from interviews and direct engagement with organisations representing women and their families, including equality campaign group Five X More and local Maternity Voices Partnerships.

• Report
• Care Quality Commission - press release

Making maternity services safer: nurturing a positive culture

Royal College of Midwives -
According to this report, poor working cultures must be tackled if UK maternity services are to be made safer. It describes how a positive working environment is needed, where multi-disciplinary teams work and train together and are better equipped to deliver good quality, safe care for women and families.

• Report
• Royal College of Midwives - press release

The role and functions of CCG medicines optimisation teams

Nuffield Trust - 

This report reflects on the crucial role and functions that clinical commissioning group medicines optimisation teams deliver in the existing healthcare architecture to improve patient care.

• Report
• More detail

Adult social care extension to Infection Control and Testing Fund ring-fenced grant 2021

Department of Health and Social Care -
This guidance sets out the measures that the extension to the Infection Control and Testing Fund supports, including distribution of funds, conditions and reporting requirements. The Department of Health and Social Care have extended the fund until 30 September 2021.

• Guidance
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Consultation on the appointment and operation of the Patient Safety Commissioner

Department of Health and Social Care -
This consultation seeks views and any comments from those who may be affected or have a particular interest in the set up and functions of the new Patient Safety Commissioner for England. It closes on 5 August 2021.

• Consultation
• Department of Health and Social Care - consultations