Health Management and Policy Alert

Phase 1 report

Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case - 

This is the phase 1 report by the independent inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case. The inquiry has been established to investigate how David Fuller was able to carry out inappropriate and unlawful actions in the mortuary of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and why they went apparently unnoticed, for so long. A phase 2 report, looking at the broader national picture and the practices and procedures in place to protect the deceased in the NHS and other settings, is planned for publication at a later date.

• Report
• More detail

Engaging the private sector in delivering health care and goods: governance lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic

European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies - 

Engaging the private sector in delivering health care and goods requires a sound understanding of how to align resources with the strategic priorities of a health system. This report for policy-makers analyses governance evidence from the Covid-19 pandemic. It explores a selection of case studies that describe real-life private sector engagements in service delivery, procurement of personal protective equipment, and advance purchase agreements for Covid-19 vaccines during the pandemic.

• Report
• Press release

NHS trust: why Whitehall’s increasingly divided view on health and care matters

Nuffield Trust - 

With Whitehall paymasters showing less faith in the organisations that hold the budgets for health and social care in England, this long read sets out five ways that such tensions behind the scenes can impact on the running of services.

• Long read

Provider collaboration: a practical guide to lawful, well-governed collaboratives

NHS Providers - 

This guide (produced with Browne Jacobson LLP) is designed to support NHS acute, mental health, community, specialist, and ambulance trust boards focus on the considerations that enable well-governed provider collaboration. The guide includes considerations relevant to partnership at any level of population, although it focuses more on collaboration at scale. This practical guide reflects the legal framework for collaboration and NHS England policy, as well as building on the experiences of trusts.

• Guide

Exclusion trends and evaluation of NHS Resolution resources to manage exclusions

NHS Resolution - 

NHS Resolution’s Practitioner Performance Advice service has published this data and analysis of doctors and dentists exclusion trends. The paper looks at episodes of formal exclusion in England on which advice was requested in the four-year period 2019/20 to 2022/23, and finds a decrease in formal exclusions. It also reports on the evaluation of the resources published last year to support good practice and fairness in documenting and managing the exclusion process.

• Paper
• Press release

The New York health system: lessons from across the pond

Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) - 

The major challenges facing the healthcare system in the United Kingdom, such as an increase in demand, workforce shortages, health inequalities, financial sustainability, and information management, are common across the world. Despite different structures and funding arrangements in place, there is a lot to be learned from countries with similar challenges and aspirations. This briefing sets out the insights of Caroline Clarke, NHS England’s new London regional director, on the health systems of New York and surrounding areas.

• Briefing
• More detail

A summary of NHS England’s Fit and Proper Person Test framework

NHS Employers -
NHS England published a revised Fit and Proper Person Test (FPPT) framework in response to the recommendations made by Tom Kark KC in his 2019 Review of the FPPT. The review highlighted areas that needed improvement to strengthen the existing regime. The framework is effective from 30 September 2023 and NHS organisations are expected to use it for all new board level appointments or promotions and for annual assessments for all board members going forward from that date. This briefing aims to help organisations to prepare for the new requirements.

• NHS Employers - publications

The disclosure of industry payments to the healthcare sector

Department of Health and Social Care -
This consultation aims to seek views on the possible introduction of regulations mandating the disclosure of industry payments to the health care sector. The consultation closes on 16 October 2023.

• Consultation
• Department of Health and Social Care - consultations

Proposal to enable dental hygienists and dental therapists to supply and administer specific medicines under exemptions

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) - 

The DHSC seeking views on amending the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to enable dental hygienists and dental therapists to supply and administer specific medicines without the need for sign-off from a dentist. The proposed change will support dental hygienists and dental therapists in providing the right care to patients without unnecessary delays and add capacity in dental care teams.

• Consultation
• More detail

Proposal for the use of patient group directions by pharmacy technician

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) - 

The DHSC is consulting jointly with the Department of Health Northern Ireland to seek views on amending the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to enable pharmacy technicians to supply and administer medicines using patient group directions (PGDs). This proposal supports the ambitions of NHS systems across the UK to maximise the use of the skill mix within pharmacy teams, enabling them to meet more of the health needs of their local populations.

• Consultation
• More detail