Tackling health inequalities new report

The Royal Society for Public Health has published Tackling health inequalities: the case for investment in the wider public health workforce. This new report is calling for greater investment and better understanding of the impact of the “wider public health workforce” people who are not professionally qualified public health practitioners, but have the ability or opportunity to positively impact public health in their community. The report argues that this “wider workforce” could be instrumental in reducing the burden of health inequalities the financial cost of which was last estimated at close to £60bn.

Health and wellbeing metrics and demographics – NHS Employers

NHS Employers have added new information, case studies and useful links to the health and wellbeing section of their website on using metrics and demographics.

Employers respond to the GMC’s new powers for checking doctors’ language skills – NHS Employers

Changes in the law yesterday (25 June 2014) which give the General Medical Council new powers to check the English language skills of licenced doctors have been welcomed by employers.

Sign up to safety campaign

The Secretary of State for Health has launched a new campaign sign up for safety.  The campaign has set out a three-year shared objective to save 6,000 lives and halve avoidable harm with the aim ensuring patients get harm free care every time, everywhere.  NHS England, Department of Health, Monitor, NHS Trust Development Authority, NHS Litigation Authority and CQC have all agreed to sign up, and have made a commitment to align their organisations’ work with the campaign.
Additional link: Department of Health press release  Monitor press release

Publication of staffing levels and the ‘Sign Up To Safety’ campaign – NHS Employers

The actual versus planned nurse and midwifery staffing levels in May have been published on the NHS Choices website and a new safety website has been launched which allows the public to see how their hospital is performing on key safety measures.

NHS Trust Development Authority signs up to safety  – TDA

The NHS Trust Development Authority (NHS TDA) has signed up to the ‘Sign up to Safety’ campaign. The campaign aims to make the NHS in England the safest healthcare system in the world by halving avoidable harm, saving around 6,000 lives a year. The campaign has the potential to not only improve the quality and safety of services, but is also aligned with the NHS TDA’s core aim of supporting NHS Trusts to deliver sustainable quality in every part of the system.

Inquiry into patient centred care on the 21st century – Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) 

This Inquiry has been established by the RCGP with the objective of delivering original, cost effective solutions to the medical, social and financial challenges posed by rising levels of multi-morbidity within society. The Inquiry is being undertaken by a panel of experts drawn from a range different perspectives within the healthcare system, including both patients and professionals. It will look at the role of general practice within the context of primary, community and social care services. The Inquiry is currently inviting evidence submissions from all who have a stake in this issue – including patients, health professionals, managers and decision-makers – to help inform its work. The deadline for responses is 16th July 2014.

NHS financial temperature check briefing – Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) 

This briefing summarises finance directors’ views on financial challenges facing the NHS.

Report on inquiry into respiratory deaths – APPG on Respiratory Health

The inquiry investigated why premature mortality from respiratory disease remains so high and how death rates could be improved. It focussed in particular on two conditions: COPD and asthma, which together affect around 6 million people in the UK.

NHS England to develop new indicator for nurse staffing – HSJ Article

One in three hospitals recorded nursing shift ‘fill rates’ of more than 100 per cent in May, according to figures released as part of the government’s patient safety drive.

One chance to get it right: improving people’s experience of care in the last few days and hours of life – Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People

The Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People, made up of 21 national health and care organisations, has published this report to form a response to the recommendations set out in More Care, Less Pathway, the independent review of the Liverpool Care Pathway.

• Report
• Original review
• Department of Health – publications

NICE guidance

NICE has issued the following guidance:

• Arrhythmias – ICDs & Heart failure – cardiac resynchronisation – Technology Appraisal 314
• Arthroscopic radiofrequency chondroplasty for discrete chondral defects of the knee – Interventional Procedure Guidance 493
• Diabetes (type 2) – canagliflozin – Technology Appraisal 315
• Endoscopic saphenous vein harvest for coronary artery bypass grafting – Interventional Procedure Guidance 494
• Radiofrequency tissue reduction for turbinate hypertrophy – Interventional Procedure Guidance 495
• The geko device for reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism – Medical Technologies Guidance 19

Bulletins

• NHS Managers Bulletin: issue 39
• NHS Campaigns and Communications Bulletin: issue 12

Health statistics

• Diagnostic Imaging Dataset Statistics – February 2014
• Focus on – The Health and Care of Older People, June 2014