Common and complex: commissioning effective dementia services in the new world

This report looks at the impact of current policy on dementia services, with a view to making recommendations to government and the NHS for how these challenges can be met. Sections include driving an integrated approach to dementia services; delivering the information revolution for dementia care; and commissioning on the basis of quality and user involvement.

Emergency bed use: what the numbers tell us

This briefing from the King’s Fund examines why more needs to be understood about bed use for emergency admissions. Reducing bed use for this purpose offers the most potential for savings. Our new data briefing explores the figures in more detail and identifies the groups of emergency patients with the greatest scope for reductions in bed use.

Value Based Clinical Commissioning of Elective Surgical Care

The aim of this report has been to make recommendations for the effective commissioning of elective surgical procedures. The paper draws on discussions held between clinicians and commissioners care. And emphasizes the importance of the care pathways rather than individual procedures, and the requirement for audit of points on the pathway against set standards.

Can NHS hospitals do more with less?

This review of hospital efficiency from the Nuffield Trust has found that there are many ways in which hospitals could improve efficiency and reduce the need for cutbacks in services for patients.

After the event: getting care right for patients after a heart attack

This report from Heart UK calls on all NHS trusts to offer cardiac rehabilitation services to heart attack patients after finding that 2,100 patients across England are not being offered rehabilitation despite the clear benefits of the service in improving patient experience and outcomes from the disease.

Delivering sustainable cost improvement programmes

This new guide from the Audit Commission and Monitor summarises how successful organisations approach the delivery of cost improvement programmes.

Telehealth: what can the NHS learn from experience at the US Veterans Health Administration?

This report looks in detail at the learning which could be gained from the largest telehealth implementation in the world. It outlines how best to address telehealth at scale and deliver significant potential benefits.

Care for older patients with co-morbidity

This study published in the British Journal of General Practice reports that the management of end of life care, particularly for patients suffering from more than one medical condition could be addressed by GPs having anticipatory care plan (ACP) discussions with patients. The authors found that more use of ACPs in primary care helped reduce unplanned hospitalisation by 52 per cent as more was understood regarding patients’ wishes surrounding medical interventions.

Seven day working in imaging departments - good practice guidance

This good practice guidance identifies the issues, sets out the evidence and provides case studies on providing a seven day service in imaging departments. This has been shown to improve the quality and efficiency of a wide range of services, which rely on imaging, enhancing patient experience and outcomes.