Knowledge @lert for Tuesday 20th August

August 20, 2019 CCG Daily News

Health inequalities in ageing in rural and coastal areas
Public Health England has published Health inequalities in older populations in coastal and rural areas. This review provides evidence on the health inequalities experienced by older populations in coastal and rural areas, together with a summary of key considerations to reduce inequalities and promote healthy ageing in these areas. It comprises a literature review supplemented with case studies, and brings together a range of information with links to published research.

Preventing falls in people with a learning disability
Public Health England has published Preventing falls in people with learning disabilities: making reasonable adjustments. This guide contains information to help staff in public health, health services and social care to prevent falls in people with learning disabilities. It is also intended to help falls prevention services to provide support that is accessible to people with learning disabilities. It may also be of use to family, carers and friends of people with learning disabilities.

Improving care for patients with a learning disability
NHS Digital is piloting a reasonable adjustment flag on patient records which will let doctors, nurses and other health and care staff know that a patient has a learning disability and has specific needs that require adjustments to the services provided so they get the best care. The pilot will run to the end of September to test the technology behind the flag and gather feedback from staff, patients and carers. NHS Digital will then explore a potential expansion.

Flexible working
The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a new engagement exercise to understand what would help create the work-life balance NHS and social care staff want.

NHS Health Checks review
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced there will be an evidence-based review of the NHS Health Check service. The review will explore new intelligent, predictive checks, taking age, risk factors and lifestyle into account. It will examine how to improve the system with a focus on offering personalised interventions. The review will also explore a special check-up for people approaching retirement age; increasing the range of advice the checks can offer; ways to increase the uptake of health checks; and the digitisation of health checks where appropriate.

Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit
NHS RightCare has produced the Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit. This guidance aims to help CCGs deliver faster diagnosis and treatment for progressive neurological conditions, better join-up the different health professionals and organisations supporting each individual, and improve access to specialist physical and mental health care.

Reducing length of stay
NHS England has produced a series of reducing length of stay action cards. The six action cards, aimed at different groups of health professionals, highlight the most important things that healthcare professionals should be doing each day to reduce long hospital stays.

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

NICE consultations