NHS atlas of variation in diagnostic services
The first NHS Atlas of Variation in Diagnostic Services charts significant differences in how health conditions are identified and monitored.
Guidance on nursing staffing
Guidance from NHS England to support providers and commissioners to make the right decisions about nursing, midwifery and care staffing.
Government makes full response to Francis
The government has published a full response to the recommendations made by the Francis report.
Monitor looks at walk-in centres
Research from the health sector regulator Monitor suggests that patients may not be able to access the care they need.
Lessons on integration of social care and health services
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) has published a paper on the integration of health and social care drawing on experiences from the four UK health and care systems.
New NICE Quality Standards and Guidance
Surgical site infection covers the prevention and treatment of surgical site infection adults, children and young people undergoing surgical incisions through the skin.
Cardiac rehabilitation should be offered within 10 days of discharge from hospital after a heart attack, according to NICE in an update to the 2007 guideline
Cardiac rehabilitation should be offered within 10 days of discharge from hospital after a heart attack, according to NICE in an update to the 2007 guideline
Findings from NHS seven-day services forum
NHS England has published findings of an investigation into seven day services across the NHS. In addition see Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) report on seven-day care.
Digital health: working in partnership
Telecare, telehealth, mobile healthcare and similar services all offer more efficient and effective healthcare delivery, according to a new report on “digital health”, says a new report from the Department of Health.
Improve management of multiple medicine use
A new report from the King’s Fund says that policy, medical training and clinical practice have failed to adapt to a significant increase in the number of patients taking multiple prescription drugs.
HSCIC publishes new report to help shed light on A&E activity
Focus on Accident and Emergency, published by HSCIC aims to help inform the current debate by bringing together a broad range of statistical data and analyses. See also Sir Bruce Keogh’s key findings from his review of urgent and emergency care.
The National Intermediate Care Audit: key to understanding integrated care for older people
We can’t deal with the emergency care crisis at the front door of the hospital without addressing the situation at the back door – there are still too many patients who could be sent home within 0 – 2 days but who would not be able to access community support in time, says David Oliver.
Hospitals must tackle the fear and stigma around dementia
Tackling the stigma of dementia is a long-sought aim of agencies working to raise awareness and care for people with the disease. A huge amount of work remains if this goal is to be achieved, and hospitals, which are at the very heart of communities, have an important role in raising awareness and encouraging holistic approaches to drive change. Many dementia patients say that from the moment they are diagnosed, those around them feel somehow rendered incapable. In reference to his own diagnosis with early onset dementia, the author Terry Pratchett summed up this reaction quite simply: "People get embarrassed, lower their voices and get lost for words."
Older People prioritised in spend of £250m A&E fund
The Department of Health recently announced beneficiaries would be bringing in extra staff and beds in acute and community settings in order to tackle winter pressures on A&E departments, at a time increasing numbers of trusts have been failing to hit the flagship four-hour waiting time target.
NHS fund switching for older people is grossly unjust
Writing for The Observer, David Blunkett said that basing NHS funding on numbers of old people, rather than their wealth, is the least debated active injustice. It will probably have come as a considerable surprise to some of those in retirement to learn that national statistics show that while there has been a 6.5% drop in living standards for those in work, there's been an uplift for those who have put their working life behind them.
Cold Weather Plan launches to prepare for winter
The plan aims to prevent avoidable harm to health, to help prevent excess winter deaths in England.
Shape of Training
Securing the future of excellent patient care, the final report of the independent review of the shape of medical training led by Professor David Greenaway has been published. Prof Paul Knight, President of the BGS said: "We welcome the report's recognition of the changing needs of our population and the requirement for all doctors to have knowledge of the basics of geriatric medicine. However, while this increase in generalism is welcome, specialists in geriatric medicine will still be needed to manage more complex patients."
Journal of Dementia Care: Nov/Dec 2013 - contents page
Enabling risk – time and tenacity is what it takes
Improving mealtimes – it started with listening
Dementia care advisors transforming care
Developing the role of the Admiral Nurse in care homes
Antipsychotics – how to make monitoring happen
Grandma remember me – drama in nurse education
Music for life – culture change 20 years in the making
Improving mealtimes – it started with listening
Dementia care advisors transforming care
Developing the role of the Admiral Nurse in care homes
Antipsychotics – how to make monitoring happen
Grandma remember me – drama in nurse education
Music for life – culture change 20 years in the making
Acute oncology on the acute medical unit
This toolkit stresses the importance of patients having access to cancer specialists as soon as possible, and suggests that NHS trusts set up acute oncology services, which can work with the team in the acute medical unit to help in the management of patients with acute oncology problems.
Co-ordinated care for people with complex chronic conditions
This report presents the findings from a two-year research project, which aimed to understand the key components of effective strategies employed by studying five UK-based programmes to deliver co-ordinated care for people with long-term and complex needs.
Case study on virtual wards in South Devon and Torbay
South Devon and Torbay CCG uses proactive case management and community virtual wards to identify people at risk of an unnecessary hospital admission in the next 12 months.
Homecare survey generates ideas to help improve services
The ideas were among comments received from more than 1000 service users, their friends and family, providers of care and care professionals. Suggestions to improve homecare included: care providers having an online or telephone booking system; using tablets to record care visits with access for the family doctor, local nurse and the person’s family; and creating local care teams so intimate care is never delivered by a stranger
New professional guidance on pharmacy services for clinical trials
The National Pharmacy Clinical Trials Advisory Group (NPCTAG) has produced new guidance intended for use by pharmacy staff involved with the provision of clinical trials services at policy, strategic and operational levels.
NHS needs complaints handling revolution
An independent report by Ann Clwyd and Professor Tricia Hart calls for a revolution in the way in which the NHS handles complaints. The review received 2,500 responses describing poor care, lack of compassion and dissatisfaction with the handling of complaints.
Reconfiguring services: when must NHS bodies consult the public? How do they go about doing it? And how can they protect themselves from legal challenge?
Commissioners have difficult decisions to make about services - which to continue, which to commission, and which to stop. This briefing from Mills and Reeve draws out the central principles from the case law and from published guidance, setting out the ground rules for a lawful consultation and pointing out the “elephant traps” to avoid.
Managing demand for emergency hospital admissions
Many emergency admissions to hospital are avoidable and many patients stay in hospital longer than necessary, according to a report by the National Audit Office. Improving the flow of patients through the system will be critical to the NHS’s ability to cope with future winter.
Seven-day services in the NHS
The BMA has published information about the proposals to make more NHS services available all week round including background, the BMA’s position and evidence about the impact of the plan on hospitals.
Future hospital: caring for medical patients
This report from the Royal College of Physicians focuses on the care of acutely ill medical patients, the organisation of medical services, and the role of physicians and doctors in training across the medical specialties in England and Wales.
Putting RPS hospital standards into practice
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has published a report outlining the experiences of thirty-five hospital sites across the UK who have implemented the RPS professional standards for hospital pharmacy.
Time to act - severe sepsis: rapid diagnosis and treatment saves lives
A report by the health service ombudsman highlights the death of patients in the NHS after failure to diagnose and rapidly treat severe sepsis. The recommendations in the report cover both the delivery of clinical care and the way it is organised.
RPS publishes medicines optimisation briefings
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has published the first of five briefings on medicines optimisation, which are specific to each area of pharmacy and detail how they can make it part of routine practice.
Joined-up care in action: Integrated care map
This map, published by the Kings Fund, has pulled together a range of case studies to help showcase integrated care in action.
Future Hospital Commission Report
The Future Hospital Commission has published its report and recommendations for ensuring that hospitals are designed around the needs of patients.
The quest for integrated health and social care: a case study from New Zealand
Another King’s Fund report about journey made by a District Health Board in New Zealand, towards its goal of providing integrated care for all. It looks at the drivers for change and the leadership values shown by key players.
Delivering better services for people with long-term conditions
The King’s Fund has published a paper on the “house of care”, a co-ordinated service delivery model for people with long-term conditions.
Expressions of interest open for seven day services improvement programme
NHS England and NHS Improving Quality are inviting expressions of interest from across the health and social care system to become early adopters of the new seven day services improvement
Integrated care: starter for ten
This visual bookshelf on Pinterest has links to 10 integrated care resources chosen by the King’s Fund.
What's working in community care
This Nuffield Trust report presents key learning from evaluations of 30 community-based interventions designed to reduce emergency hospital admissions.
Increasing innovation and lowering costs in the NHS
In a report on how the NHS can increase innovation and lower costs, the Council for Science and Technology says that the NHS will need to work with innovative businesses.
Local Government Association and NHS England’s integrated care fund vision
The Local Government Association and NHS England has published their planning vision for how the pooling of £3.8 billion of funding, announced by the government in the June spending round, will ensure a transformation in integrated health and social care.
Integrated care in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales: Lessons for England
This report from the King’s Fund examines the context in which health and social care is provided; identifies policy initiatives that promote integrated care and the impact of these initiatives; and considers the barriers and challenges to achieving integrated care.
New clinical record standards to support seamless care
New record standards which will allow information about patients to be shared more accurately and efficiently across the NHS have been launched by the Royal College of Physicians and the HSCIC.
Bowel cancer: national audit confirms for the first time huge difference in survival rates between surgery and non-surgery patients
Data from the latest National Bowel Cancer Audit shows that the risk of post-operative death following an emergency admission carries a much higher risk when compared to an admission for elective (planned) surgery.
Variations in care for head and neck cancer patients
There is a wide variation in the numbers of head and neck cancer patients receiving important elements of care, according to a national audit report released today.
Resources for commissioners of women's health services
This new e-resource by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) aims to support CCGs and NHS England in the commissioning of women’s health services.
CCG musculoskeletal care revamp slashes waiting times
A CCG pilot to reform local musculoskeletal care has cut waiting times and could save the NHS money.
NHS England asks patients, the public and staff to help shape the future of urgent and emergency care
NHS England is asking patients, public and NHS staff to help shape the future of urgent and emergency care services. Those using and working in the NHS have from 17 June to 11 August to feedback on an evidence base for change and emerging principles that will guide the review.
Rise in emergency visits ‘unsustainable’
This study by Imperial College examines the association between access to primary care and emergency department visits in England. It says that policy makers should consider improving timely access to primary care when developing plans to reduce ED utilisation.
Joined-up working required for effective stroke rehab services
A multidisciplinary team including health and social care professionals is essential for an effective stroke rehabilitation service, according to the latest NICE stroke rehabilitation guidance.
Recommendations for safe trainee changeover
There is increasing evidence to show that simultaneous changeover is associated with reduced efficiency and increased mortality. Recommendations for the safe changeover of doctors in training have been published jointly by NHS Employers and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC)
Venous thromboembolism programme is saving lives
NHS England’s national prevention programme aimed at improving outcomes for patients who develop hospital associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been shown to save lives in the results of a study undertaken at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Major trauma networks credited with increase in survival rates
Results from a national audit by the Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN), show that 20 per cent more patients are now surviving severe trauma since the introduction of major trauma networks in 2010.
Overhaul of End of Life Care system
The Government is to replace the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) and will ask senior clinicians to sign off all end of life care plans, as part of its response to the findings of an Independent Review, Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb announced today.
Working together to deliver the Mandate
NHS and voluntary sector providers have a key role to play in delivering the priorities set out in the NHS Mandate. Some emergent and innovative local partnerships are already achieving impressive results in delivering high-quality, person-centred care – often producing significant cost savings too.
Diabetic patients developing preventable life-threatening complications in hospital
The results of the National Diabetes Inpatient Audit (NaDIA) which examined data collected by hospital teams in England and Wales about inpatients with diabetes over a five-day period in September 2012 show that in just one week more than 60 hospital inpatients with diabetes developed a life-threatening but preventable complication, and that the majority of hospitals in England and Wales made medication errors
Keogh review of hospital care
The report of the Keogh Review has found that while there were some examples of good care, none of the 14 hospitals investigated was providing consistently high quality care to patients.
Supporting the commissioning of anticoagulation therapy for adults
This resource supports commissioners, clinicians and managers to commission high-quality evidence-based anticoagulation therapy.
Integrated care: our shared commitment
A framework from the Department of Health that outlines ways to improve health and social care integration.
Redesigning maternity services in Sandwell and West Birmingham
This case study is part of a series designed to share good practice and lessons learned by local NHS organisations involved in major reviews of local health services.
Patterns of maternity care in English NHS hospitals
A study of hospital episode statistics has found wide variation in practice and outcomes across maternity units in England.
Pilot study improves patient care with reduced cost to NHS
Patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) problems have seen care improve and waiting times cut as part of a pilot saving the NHS tens of thousands of pounds.
Juniors don't have time to deliver quality care, BMA survey reveals
More than one in four junior doctors feel they do not have the time to deliver the quality of care that patients deserve, according to a BMA survey. The study reveals half of respondents say there is a problem with staffing shortages in their workplaces, which has an impact on care delivery.
NHS launch plan to help hospital and A&E departments keep waiting times in check
Plans to strengthen performance in urgent and emergency care are being put in place across the country to help hospital A&E departments meet demand and tackle waiting time pressures.
Patients, clinicians and managers join forces to call for NHS change
Unless the NHS acknowledges the need to change how services are delivered, it will descend into a “vicious spiral” of poorly planned, reactive responses resulting in unsustainable demand, says a partnership calling for a better approach to service change.
Interim specifications for specialised commissioning
NHS England has published the interim specifications it has adopted for the commissioning of specialised services.
NHS England strategy for commissioning support services
NHS England’s Towards Commissioning Excellence: a Strategy for Commissioning Support Services sets out the building blocks for developing a vibrant market that enables clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and other commissioners to choose from best-in-class providers from the public, voluntary and independent sector.
Public remain wedded to NHS funding model says new research
The public remain firmly wedded to the fundamental principles underpinning the NHS but under certain circumstances could support the introduction of charges for some treatments and services, suggests a new report.
NHS England publishes generic commissioning policies
NHS England has published a number of interim generic policies, ensuring fair and consistent decision-making across its direct commissioning function. The 14 policies cover all aspects of NHS England’s direct commissioning responsibilities including specialised services, primary care, screening, military and offender health.
Kings Fund’s 10 priorities for commissioners
The King’s Fund has revised its paper setting out 10 priorities for commissioners in the new NHS. The update reflects changes in the healthcare system since 1 April.
Setting up teledermatology services: new guidance for commissioners
Store and forward teledermatology offers the potential for experienced dermatology clinicians to review images and ensure patients are seen at the right time, in the right place, first time. A new document created by key stakeholders and opinion leaders reviews the evidence and provides guidance.
New kidney disease profiles help CCGs drive up service quality
A new set of resources has been launched to help clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) provide high quality kidney services. NHS Kidney Care has produced a kidney disease profile for each of the 211 CCGs. These are intended to help CCGs and other stakeholders, such as GPs and service providers, assess local kidney care need and current service levels in order to inform planning.
Best practice for managing medicines shortages in secondary care
These standards provide advice to NHS hospitals in England in managing medicines shortages at local level to minimise any risks to patients through delays to treatment.
New NICE quality standards
NICE has published new quality standards on the management of hypertension and on the diagnosis and treatment of asthma.
Making integrated care happen at scale and pace
The King’s Fund has published a paper on integrated care summarising 16 steps that need to be taken to make integrated care a reality and provide examples of good practice.
Commissioning diabetes services - an integrated care framework
NHS Diabetes has published Best Practice for Commissioning Diabetes Services. It aims to ensure that people with diabetes have access to a joined up service from the time of diagnosis, through more complex management.
Industry partnerships in respiratory health
Partners in Delivery is a practical guide that sets out the various models of partnership working with pharmaceutical and the wider healthcare industry with case studies from the DH respiratory programme.
Managing exacerbations in COPD toolkit
NHS Improvement – Lung worked with a number of sites to develop alternative approaches and models of care to improve the services available to patients.
Report casts doubt on benefits of joint commissioning
A new report on joint commissioning in health and social care has found the perceived benefits of collaborative working, such as efficiency savings and improvements to services, often lag behind the reality.
NHS Improvement turns spotlight on stroke
A set of new publications from NHS Improvement include resources for continuing care, patient and public engagement and rapid response.
Reshaping surgical services: principles for change
In this new document, the Royal College of Surgeons makes the case for a different approach to reconfiguration from one which has been taken in the past.
Report casts doubt on benefits of joint commissioning
A new report on joint commissioning in health and social care has found the perceived benefits of collaborative working, such as efficiency savings and improvements to services, often lag behind the reality.
Tighter turnaround for histopathology
Establishment of a seven-day turnaround for histopathology results is vital to early diagnosis and improved outcomes for patients. However, a number of issues can occur in the time between taking specimens and results being made available. An initiative by NHS Evidence aims to address these and other issues.
NHS safety thermometer 2013/14: CQUIN guidance
This guidance explains how the NHS Safety Thermometer tool can be used to achieve CQUIN goals for 2013/14. It outlines a step-by-step process to aid an understanding of data, and how to use it to set improvement goals and measure improvement over time.
New study highlights positive impact of digital technology in health and social care
The potential benefits to staff and patients of greater use of information and digital technology in the NHS and social care are shown in a new study published
Benefits of technology shown in mobile health worker project
The benefits of mobile technology for health staff and patients are outlined in the final report of the mobile health worker project, the aims of which were to understand the requirements of mobile working, and to demonstrate whether increased productivity and efficiency can be achieved by making changes to working processes.
Review of urgent and emergency services in England
The NHS Commissioning Board is to review the model of urgent and emergency services in England. The review, will set out proposals for the best way of organising care to meet the needs of patients.
State of maternity services report 2011
This report on the pressures on maternity care and the resources available in the UK, finds a significant increase in the number of births and a trend towards older mothers. The report recommends ways to make better use of the resources available.
Maternity pathway payment system in 2012-13 updated
The DoH has published information on how and why the PbR maternity pathway system has been developed. It includes the structure of the system, how prices have been produced, data templates, business rules and frequently asked questions
Making connections with the challenges of unscheduled care
This publication from NHS improvement shares the issues, the outcomes and identifies some tried and tested solutions that can ease the burden of unscheduled care.
What should I expect from assessment and diagnosis of COPD?
This booklet is one of four guides from the Lung Foundation and NHS improvement explaining what people with breathing problems can expect from aspects of their care
Patients have a right to the same standard of care seven days a week
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges’ Seven Day Consultant Present Care standards say that patients in hospital should be reviewed by a consultant at least once every 24 hours, including weekends and bank holidays, unless there are good reasons for them to not to have a daily review.
A narrative for person-centred, coordinated (‘integrated’) care
This report from the NHS Commissioning Board describes integrated care which is centred around the whole person, co-ordinated around the needs of patients, families and carers and feels more joined up to the individual.
NHS Commissioning Board consults on specialised services
All patients requiring treatment from a specialised service are to have access to the same standard of service and the same clinical policy wherever they live.
NHS should offer early pregnancy services seven days a week
NICE says that early pregnancy assessment services should be made available seven days a week to ensure that women receive a timely diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy and are offered care and support during a miscarriage.
Developing operational delivery networks
The NHS Commissioning Board have announced the introduction Operational delivery networks (ODNs) will cover areas such as neonatal intensive care, adult critical care, burns and trauma and are focused on coordinating patient pathways between providers over a wide area to ensure access to specialist support and expertise.
Making integrated out of hospital care a reality
This report from the NHS Confederation discusses the foundations for integrated care for adults, children and young people, with a focus on implementing out of hospital care, and connecting primary, community and social care.
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