Relationship between health outcomes and health expenditure
The Office of Health Economics has published Exploring Variations in the Opportunity Cost Cost-effectiveness Threshold by Clinical Area: Results from a Feasibility Study in England.  This report provides empirical evidence on the relationship between health outcomes and health expenditures in England. Results suggest that setting a cost-effectiveness criterion for NICE may not be capable of being synthesised using scientific methods alone, but involve political judgements.

Price and availability of NHS medicines
The Centre for Health and the Public Interest has published Who decides the price and availability of NHS medicines?  This briefing summarises the key forces determining the price and availability of new medicines in the NHS. It explains the tension between pharmaceutical companies, purchasers (e.g. the NHS), and patients’ representative groups.

Integrated homes, care and support
The Housing LIN has published Integrated homes, care and support: measurable outcomes for healthy ageing.  This report provides an overview of research findings on the benefits to residents generated through ExtraCare villages and schemes, including sustained improvements in markers of health and well-being for residents and subsequent cost implications for the NHS.

Autism
The House of Commons Library has published Autism – overview of UK policy and services.  This briefing provides an overview of policies and services for people with autism, primarily in England.

NIHR Signals
The following research summaries have been added to the National Institute for Health Research website:

• C-reactive protein is not useful in diagnosing late-onset infection in newborns
• Long-term exercise programmes reduce falls and injuries in older adults
• Torn Achilles tendons have similar outcomes if treated with or without surgery.

Quality in public health
The Public Health System Group for England has published Quality in public health: a shared responsibility.  This framework provides a framework for improving quality in the delivery of public health functions and services that can support sector led improvement.  It describes what is meant by quality in public health systems; sets out the roles and responsibilities of key players; describes the process for improving quality; and identifies areas for priority focus and action.

Management of labour
The National Institute for Health Research has published Management of labour.  This Highlight presents recent research evidence on some aspects of the management of labour, including the induction of labour; waterbirth; interpretation of the fetal heart rate; pain management; and position during the second stage of labour with or without an epidural.

The NHS winter crisis
Reform has published an issue of ‘Reformer Thoughts’ The NHS winter crisis.  This document contains opinions from healthcare professionals on what can be done to prevent the winter crisis from recurring.  It covers workforce and staff, Primary Care Networks, mental and physical health divide, adult social care, and tactical and strategic healthcare innovation.

e-learning resources: prescribing / sepsis
Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare (HEE e-LfH) has launched the following training tools:

• Prescribing Simulator – a formative assessment tool for all prescribers to develop their prescribing skills.  While the scenarios are written in a hospital setting the cases are relevant to general practitioners, pharmacists and other prescribing groups.
• Think Sepsis – an e-learning resource for executive, non-executive and management level staff in trusts on sepsis, incorporating antimicrobial resistance and stewardship.

HEE e-LH has published an infographic showing the number of registered users, new programmes launched and number of e-learning sessions launched during 2018.

Note: You will need an OpenAthens account to log-in. If you don’t have an account or have forgotten your login details please contact the Hanely Library

Patient Group Directions
The Specialist Pharmacy Service has published When Patient Group Directions (PGDs) are not required.  This document provides guidance on when PGDs should not be used and advice on alternative mechanisms for supply and administration of medicines.

Tobacco and alcohol CQUIN
Public Health England and NHS England have updated Health matters: tobacco and alcohol CQUIN.  This revised guidance contains updated statistics and reflects changes to the ‘Screening and brief advice for tobacco and alcohol use in inpatient settings’ CQUIN operating in 2019 to 2020.

Health economics evidence resource
Public Health England has updated its Health economics evidence resource. This tool shows the main cost-effectiveness and return on investment evidence underpinning public health interventions.

Health and care workforce: key areas for action
The Health Foundation, King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust have published Closing the gap: key areas for action on the health and care workforce.  This report sets out a series of policy actions that, evidence suggests, should be at the heart of the workforce implementation plan.  It focuses on nursing and general practice where the workforce problems are particularly severe.

GMS contract settlement and allocation changes
NHS England has published a letter GMS Contract Settlement and Allocation Changes 2019/20 to 2023/24.  The letter provides details of the changes that are needed to allocations resulting from the GP contract settlement and the spreadsheet shows how the allocations have been adjusted for each CCG area.

Management of medicines shortages
The Department of Health and Social Care has published New DHSC reporting requirements for medicine shortages and discontinuations.  This document provides medicines marketing authorisation holders with an overview of how to report medicines shortages to DHSC under the new January 2019 regulations.

Involvement Hub / Patient and Public Voice
NHS England has published the following flyers:

• Involvement Hub – sets out the different ways the public, commissioners and other health professionals can get involved in NHS England’s work. Additional link: Involvement Hub website

• Learning and development: Learning for Patient and Public Voice (PPV) partners and staff working with partners – provides information on the different course available to those who are involved with Patient and Public Voice (PPV).

Chief Social Worker for Adults’ annual report
The Department of Health and Social Care has published Chief Social Worker for Adults’ annual report: 2018 to 2019.  The Chief Social Worker for Adults in England sets out progress in improving the education, training and practice of social work with adults.

NICE guidance
Medtech innovation briefing

 Technology appraisal guidance

Statistics

• CCG Outcomes Indicator Set – March 2019
• Direct access audiology waiting times – January 2019
• Diagnostic imaging dataset – November 2018
• Learning Disability Services Monthly Statistics – Provisional Statistics (AT: February 2019, MHSDS: December 2018 Final)
• NHS Workforce Statistics – December 2018 (Including supplementary information on Mental Health workforce)
• NHS Staff Earnings Estimates – December 2018, Provisional Statistics
• NHS Sickness Absence Rates – November 2018 Provisional Statistics
• National Reporting and Learning System monthly report England – March 2018 to February 2019
• National survey of prison dental services 2017 – 2018
• Spend and outcomes tool: local authorities – 2018 data

NICE consultations

• Respiratory tract infections (self-limiting): prescribing antibiotics: surveillance consultation.  Closing date for comments: 1 April 2019.
• Melanoma: assessment and management: surveillance consultation.  Closing date for comments: 1 April 2019.
• Improving outcomes for people with skin tumours including melanoma: surveillance consultation.  Closing date for comments: 1 April 2019.
• Cerebral palsy in adults: topic engagement.  Closing date for comments: 4 April 2019.

Bulletins

• Centre for Health Economics newsletter – March 2019
• NHS Improvement Provider bulletin – 20 March 2019
• NHS Workforce Bulletin – 18 March 2019
• Regional Medicines Optimisation Committee newsletter – Issue 2, 2019
• Drug Safety Update – March 2019