Consultant outcome data

NHS England has published the latest annual consultant outcome data on a new website, MyNHS.  As well as the mortality results which formed the basis of last year’s publication, a number of other useful outcome indicators have been added by many specialties, including length of hospital stay and readmission rates.  The publication of this data also marks the formal launch of the MyNHS websitewhich presents key data used by the NHS and local councils to monitor performance and shape health and social care services. 

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the NHS

The NHS European Office has published a briefing paper The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the NHS: separating myth from fact. This paper will be of interest to all NHS organisations, and especially to those commissioning NHS services. It outlines the key issues raised by the current negotiations on the proposed trade pact between the European Union and the USA, and possible implications for the NHS. The current negotiations between the EU and the USA has raised fears of increased ‘privatisation’ of NHS services. The briefing aims to aim to separate myth from fact and given that the agreement has not been finalised, highlight areas that may pose threats or opportunities for the NHS.

The Network Toolkit – NHS Improving Quality and Centre for Innovation in Health Management 

The Network Toolkit provides an online learning resource to help network leaders and users manage their networks effectively, providing the building blocks and ‘know how’ in the system for networks to strengthen and sustain their own development, performance and impact.

The Network Toolkit provides:

• A diagnostic service for network leaders to use in diagnosing their network’s strengths and weaknesses and to shape action
• An online community of practice to share leadership challenges with other network leaders
• A knowledge bank resource to ensure network leaders have the latest evidence and intelligence on leading effective networks
• The development of a ‘Network Health Check’, which allows leaders of established networks to report its purpose, performance, aims, operations and capacity

National Seven Day Service Self-Assessment Tool – NHS Improving Quality

A national self-assessment tool has been developed to allow organisations to baseline provision of seven day services. Allows self assessment of current level of service provision, using nationally agreed definitions, to help understand your local needs and requirements for delivery of extended services. To register to access the tool go to http://www.7daysat.nhs.uk

The tool will enable you to self assess:

• Your organisation/s against the National Clinical Standards for Seven Day Services
  • Clinical Standards
  • Planning Guidance
• Your current provision of services – and current plans for expanding services in the future
• How are the views of patients and the public used in the design of services – and how could these be used in the future?
• What barriers and drivers are there in achieving extended services around areas such as workforce and finance?
• What benefits has your organisation seen / or would like to see as a result of extending services?

Personal records underpin integrated care on the Isle of Wight – NHS Improving Quality

Nearly a quarter of people on the island are over 65 and the number of local people over 65 with a long term condition is set to increase by two thirds by 2033. In common with other areas, an elderly population and high prevalence of long term conditions has led to significant isolation and loneliness, coupled with health and care services that were duplicated and fragmented. However, where the Isle of Wight differs from other areas is that it has the only combined hospital, ambulance, community and mental health services in the country. This case study from NHS IQ that details:

• The Isle of Wight has an elderly population compared with many other parts of the country and the number of older people with long term conditions is set to rise significantly
• The My Life A Full Life programme was created to deliver integrated care and support on the island, tackling the problems of isolation and better coordination of health and care services
• The programme was underpinned by web based patient records that are shared between organisations and with the individual patients themselves
• The programme has increased the number of personal budgets, reduced incidences of social isolation and enabled people receiving support at times of crisis to be cared for closer to home

Rethinking capacity building for knowledge mobilisation: developing multilevel capabilities in healthcare organisation – Implementation Science Article

Any initiative designed to build capacity for knowledge mobilisation should consider the subsequent trajectory of newly developed knowledge and skills within the recipient healthcare organisations. The analysis leads to four principles underpinning a practice-based approach to developing multilevel knowledge mobilisation capabilities:

• moving from ‘building’ capacity from scratch towards ‘developing’ capacity of healthcare organisations;
• moving from passive involvement in formal education and training towards active, continuous participation in knowledge mobilisation practices;
• moving from lower-order, project-specific capabilities towards higher-order, generic capabilities allowing healthcare organisations to adapt to change, absorb new knowledge and innovate;
• moving from single-level to multilevel capability development involving transitions between individual, group and organisational learning.

NHS Number Programme – Survey Results published – NHS England

NHS England has today published the NHS Number Survey Report, a national baseline report across all Trusts on their use of the NHS Number when sharing information for direct care. The recent “Framework for Action” report outlined the importance of the NHS Number and this survey has enabled NHS England to build, for the first time, a comprehensive picture of use of the NHS Number in direct care. This will support the move from good practice to core practice.  A number of essential improvement areas have been highlighted, with an immediate focus on local teams where the NHS Number is not used as the primary identifier within clinical correspondence, or where usage is  low.  NHS England will look to work with regional teams, CCGs, Trusts and the HSCIC to drive the widespread use of the NHS Number across care settings and to ensure that all patient activity can be identified using the NHS Number.

Commission on Hospital Care for Frail Older People: main report – HSJ

The commission addressed the problem of how the NHS should care for the country’s increasing number of frail older people. The commission’s central conclusion is that hospital providers and commissioners should not rely on government plans for greater integration between health and social care as a solution – they must and can take action now themselves to tackle the problem.

• Contact the Library & Knowledge Service to request this article or Phn. 01704 704202

Patient safety bill to legislate for zero NHS harm – Health Service Journal 

The NHS could be required to achieve ‘zero avoidable harm’ if a government backed bill being driven through Parliament by the MP for Stafford makes it onto the statute books.

• Contact the Library & Knowledge Service to request this article or Phn. 01704 704202