Knowledge @lert for Tuesday 9th June

June 9, 2015 Daily News

Options for integrated commissioning
The Kings Fund has published Options for integrated commissioning: beyond Barker. This report explores the options for implementing the recommendation from the Independent Commission on the Future of Health and Social Care in England regarding a single ring-fenced budget and a single local commissioner. It assesses evidence of past joint commissioning attempts, studies the current policy framework and local innovations in integrated budgets and commissioning, and considers which organisation is best place to take on the role of single local commissioner.

Sexual health commissioning in local government
The Local Government Association has publishedSexual health commissioning in local government. This report highlightsnine case studies which showcase local government experience of commissioning sexual health services since taking over this responsibility in April 2013. The studies outline the steps taken to collaborate not only within and between local authorities but also with NHS England and Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Dementia from the inside
The Social Care Institute for Excellence has produced a new resource Dementia from the inside. This film highlights what it might feel like to live with dementia. Viewers will experience a little of what it is like to find yourself in a world that seems familiar and yet doesn’t always make sense. The incidents pictured in this film and memories recounted are based upon true experiences gathered from people living with dementia. It is aimed at professionals and the public.

The community matron’s role in providing end-of-life care. Liddament, Angela, Journal of Community Nursing
The phasing out of the Liverpool Care Pathway and the introduction of the The Leadership Alliance for the Care of Dying People’s (LACDP’s) five priorities of care has enabled clinicians working in end-of-life care to step back and re-evaluate their practice (LACDP, 2014). The review of end-of-life care services, More Care, Less Pathway (Neuberger, 2013) highlighted areas that needed urgent improvement. These included recognising when a person is dying but understanding the need for ongoing assessment; having a senior named clinician for all patients; and improving the communication skills of all clinicians involved in end-of-life care through tire development of educational programmes. Non-malignant diseases are particularly challenging and in these cases it can be hard to recognise when a person is nearing tire end of Iris or her life. Community matrons have their own unique relationship with the people on their caseload and can often provide untapped expertise and support as their condition deteriorates.

Redesigning continence services: rehabilitation and cost-effectiveness. AM Appleyard, Jane; Bastone, Stephanie. Journal of Community Nursing.
The number of NHS patients requiring containment products such as pads is increasing year on year due to an ageing population. Patients with long-term conditions are increasingly being cared for at home, and although incontinence is not a disease it is often a symptom associated with other health issues. Community nurses are seeing patients with more complex needs, but incontinence is often not the primary reason for their visit. Containment products can be seen — both by patients and their carers — as the most effective way to manage incontinence and nurses are often put under pressure to prescribe pads, while continence services are being challenged to review the way care is delivered through innovation and the effective use of technology. This article will look at the redesign of a continence service that has involved the development of a community continence team (CCT), along with a summary of the initially encouraging performance indicators. The CCT aims to provide a comprehensive continence assessment with a focus on rehabilitation. The principles underpinning this service redesign could be applied to any community nursing team.

Cosmetic surgery draft guidance
The General Medical Council (GMC) has launched a consultation on draft guidance for all doctors who offer cosmetic interventions. The proposed guidance sets out the standards that will be expected of all UK doctors who carry out cosmetic procedures, both surgical and non-surgical. It also aims to help patients understand what to expect from their doctor. The consultation runs from 8 June 2015 to 1 September 2015 and will be available on the GMC’s website. The final guidance is expected to be published in early 2016.

NICE Do not do recommendations: lower urinary tract symptoms in men
Following the publication of the NICE guideline Lower urinary tract symptoms in men: assessment and management (NG97) earlier this month, NICE has published a series of ‘Do not do’ recommendations in relation to the guidance. These are clinical practices, identified during the development of guidance that should be discontinued or not used routinely.

King’s Fund calls for merger of NHS and social care budgets – Health Service Journal
There should be a single pooled budget for all health and social care services in every area by 2020 at the latest, according to a new report by the King’s Fund. The study, which has been shared exclusively with HSJ and its sister title Local Government Chronicle, also recommends that the Department of Health be given control of the national budget for social care.

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

Relationship between general practice and adult social care – Health Services Management Centre (HSMC)
HSMC has edited a special edition of the Journal of Integrated Care exploring the crucial relationship between general practice and adult social care.

NICE costing statements
NICE has added five costing statements to its collection the details of which are as follows: