By 2020 Health (2018)
2020health’s third report on obesity since 2014 highlights the fact that strong and mandated central policy, supporting bold, holistic local action, is still needed to impact what is arguably the greatest health challenge of the 21st century. The report examines topical obesity intervention strategies from around the world to frame the question: can the UK learn from policy abroad?
By Centre for Mental Health (2018)
This report highlights that people who have difficulties with alcohol and mental health are still not getting the help and support they need. It is based on a survey and seminar session held with professionals working in mental health and/or alcohol services across the country. It finds that co-morbidity is a barrier to treatment, and support for people with co-occurring alcohol and mental health problems is too often poor and fragmented.
By The King’s Fund (2018)
The primary and acute care system (PACS) model is an attempt to bring about closer working between GPs, hospitals, community health professionals, social care and others. This report offers a unique set of first-hand perspectives into the experience of those leading a major programme at the national level and those living it at the local level. The insights shared will be invaluable to those constructing future national support programmes intended to facilitate transformation in local health and care systems.
By The Nuffield Trust (2018)
This study finds that a new GP service offering seven-day-a-week support to four nursing homes has resulted in a 36 per cent reduction in emergency admissions to hospital, with the largest reductions happening during the last three months of a person’s life.
by NICE (2018)
NICE and Public Health England have published updated guidelines on the best ways to help people quit smoking. This guideline covers stop smoking interventions and services delivered in primary care and community settings. It aims to ensure that everyone who smokes is advised and encouraged to stop and given the support they need. It emphasises the importance of targeting vulnerable groups who are heavy smokers or have difficulty with smoking cessation.
Chisholm, A. et al. Journal of Public Health, 2018: doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdy094
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Background
National Health Service England encourages staff to use everyday interactions with patients to discuss healthy lifestyle changes as part of the ‘Making Every Contact Count’ (MECC) approach. Although healthcare, government and public health organisations are now expected to adopt this approach, evidence is lacking about how MECC is currently implemented in practice. This study explored the views and experiences of those involved in designing, delivering and evaluating MECC.
Methods
We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 13 public health practitioners with a range of roles in implementing MECC across England. Interviews were conducted via telephone, transcribed verbatim and analysed using an inductive thematic approach.
Results
Four key themes emerged identifying factors accounting for variations in MECC implementation: (i) ‘design, quality and breadth of training’, (ii) ‘outcomes attended to and measured’, (iii) ‘engagement levels of trainees and trainers’ and (iv) ‘system-level influences’.
Conclusions
MECC is considered a valuable public health approach but because organisations interpret MECC differently, staff training varies in nature. Practitioners believe that implementation can be improved, and an evidence-base underpinning MECC developed, by sharing experiences more widely, introducing standardization to staff training and finding better methods for assessing meaningful outcomes.
By House of Commons Health Committee (2018)
The government is expected to publish shortly a refreshed version of the childhood obesity plan first published in summer 2016. This report calls for an effective childhood obesity plan with a joined-up, whole systems approach and one that focuses particularly on tackling the ever-widening health inequality due to childhood obesity between the richest and poorest area.
By Royal College of Nursing (2017)
This publication provides important information and guidance on the essential principles of infection prevention and control and highlights why other issues, such as nutrition and hydration, should be viewed as an essential complementary component of nursing practice. This guidance is not intended as an in-depth reference document, but instead provides an overview of the core elements and rationale for infection prevention practice and associated
activities. It is applicable to all nurses, midwives and health care assistants, regardless of their practice setting.
By Public Health England (2018)
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Resources to help local commissioners achieve value for money by estimating the return on investment (ROI) and cost-effectiveness of public health programmes. There are various resources including:
The cost-effectiveness of specific topic areas
PHE’s Health Economics team has produced a number of resources which can be used to estimate the value of investing in prevention and early diagnosis in your area. They pull together the best available evidence on costs, savings, and health benefits for specific topic areas in a single place, thus simplifying the process of commissioning cost-effective services.
The interactive tools produced by PHE are:
By National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine et al. (2018)
Millions of Americans use e-cigarettes. Despite their popularity, little is known about their health effects. Some suggest that e-cigarettes likely confer lower risk compared to combustible tobacco cigarettes, because they do not expose users to toxicants produced through combustion. Proponents of e-cigarette use also tout the potential benefits of e-cigarettes as devices that could help combustible tobacco cigarette smokers to quit and thereby reduce tobacco-related health risks. Others are concerned about the exposure to potentially toxic substances contained in e-cigarette emissions, especially in individuals who have never used tobacco products such as youth and young adults. Given their relatively recent introduction, there has been little time for a scientific body of evidence to develop on the health effects of e-cigarettes.
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