Health Management and Policy Alert

BMA reporting portal submissions: physician associates and anaesthesia associates

British Medical Association -

The BMA has submitted this response document and associated appendices to the ongoing government-commissioned Leng Review. The response is based on the views and experiences of the medical profession, obtained through dedicated surveys, and through individual submissions to a collection portal. It covers the key areas of the review’s terms of reference - selection and recruitment, training, day to day work and scope of practice, oversight and supervision, and addresses the role and views of the GMC throughout. It also addresses the international experience of assistant/associate roles, and importantly, provides a comprehensive list of recommendations to assist the review team.

• Submission document
• Associated appendices
• British Medical Association - press release

Report for the Thirlwall Inquiry: analysis of questionnaires from 120 NHS trusts

Nuffield Trust -
The Thirlwall Inquiry was set up to examine events at the Countess of Chester Hospital following the trial and subsequent convictions of Lucy Letby for the murder and attempted murder of babies at that hospital. This report was commissioned by the Thirlwall Inquiry. It summarises key themes from responses to a questionnaire sent by the Inquiry to all other NHS trusts with maternity and neonatal units in England.

• Report
• Nuffield Trust - publications

Safety management: accountability across organisational boundaries

Health Services Safety Investigations Body -
This report is intended for health care organisations, policy-makers and the public to help improve patient safety in relation to the management of patient safety risks across organisational boundaries. This has been explored through an understanding of the pathways of care for patients whose care involves engaging with providers in primary, secondary and community care and with integrated care systems. It makes reference to processes which exist within the health and care system relating to the management of safety.

• Report

Mental health inpatient settings: creating conditions for learning from deaths in mental health inpatient services and when patients die within 30 days of discharge

Health Services Safety Investigations Body -
This report finds that systemic issues, lack of patient and family involvement and cultures of fear and blame contribute to mental health services not learning from inpatient deaths. The findings evidence challenges in maintaining safety, conducting effective and timely investigations and ensuring system wide learning. It identifies that, whilst investigations and patient safety event analysis aim for transparency and learning, they are often of variable quality.

• Report
• Health Services Safety Investigations Body - news

Commission on Human Medicines report on proposed permanent order to restrict the sale and supply of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists in children and young people under 18 years of age for the purpose of puberty suppression in gender incongruence a

Commission on Human Medicines - 

This independent report considers the safety implications of a proposal to restrict the availability of puberty blockers for under 18s. The report is technical and may not be easily interpreted by non-experts so an accompanying factsheet is designed to help readers interpret the report.

• Report
• More detail

 

Maintaining public service facilities: cross-government

National Audit Office -
This report finds that maintenance backlogs across key public services including schools, hospitals and prisons are estimated to be at least £49 billion. It finds that poor condition of buildings can affect public service delivery, with 5,400 clinical service incidents occurring in the NHS every year due to property and infrastructure failures. It recommends that government should consider the best way to manage its assets alongside its long-term investment plans, in addition to the cost of ongoing maintenance, to bring property condition to a satisfactory level.

• Report
• National Audit Office - press release

On the frontline of the UK’s corridor care crisis

Royal College of Nursing - 
This report documents the experiences of more than 5,000 NHS nursing staff following a survey at the end of December 2024. Thousands of nursing staff responded, confirming corridor care is widespread across the UK. Almost 7 in 10 (66.8%) respondents to an RCN survey said they're delivering care in over-crowded or unsuitable places – such as corridors, converted cupboards and even car parks – on a daily basis. More than 9 in 10 (90.8%) of those surveyed said patient safety is being compromised.

• Report
• Royal College of Nursing - press release

National state of patient safety 2024: prioritising improvement efforts in a system under stress

Imperial College London -
This report finds that patient safety in England has deteriorated in a majority of categories over the past two years. Analysis of publicly available data for the report shows worsening performance on several key patient safety indicators, particularly in maternity services. It also highlights a stark divide between the North and South of England: harmful, unintended effects of medical treatment are twice as high in the North East than in Greater London.

• Report
• Imperial College London - news

Impact report 2023-24

Health Innovation Oxford & Thames Valley -
This report outlines how the 15 health innovation networks (HINs) benefitted patients, addressed NHS challenges and supported economic growth. It highlights progress led by HINs across the country in addressing cardiovascular disease, patient safety, health inequity and more in 2023/24. It finds that HINs collectively made a difference to the lives of more than 1 million patients, and leveraged £467 million investment through innovator support.

• Report
• Health Innovation Oxford & Thames Valley - news

Malnutrition and nutritional care survey in adults

British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition -
This report presents findings from the screening of 2,250 adults from across the UK. It aims to give a picture of the prevalence of malnutrition and the different nutritional care interventions implemented in various settings across the four nations. It found the highest rate of adults at risk of malnutrition since the survey’s commencement, at 48% of all those screened. 42% of those screened in care homes were at risk of malnutrition, increasing to 47% of those screened in hospital, and further still to 49% for patients at home.

• Report
• British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition - news