Quadri-Sheriff, M. et al. Pediatrics, 2012; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2012-0140
Herd immunity is an important benefit of childhood immunization, but it is unknown if the concept of benefit to others influences parents’ decisions to immunize their children. Our objective was to determine if the concept of “benefit to others” has been found in the literature to influence parents’ motivation for childhood immunization.
Jimenez Soto, E. et al. PLOS Medicine, 2012; 9 (8)
Summary points
At the sub-national level—where most health services are delivered—critical knowledge and capacity gaps exist, which prevent evidence from making a direct contribution to health plans and budgets.
The Investment Case framework pairs locally led problem-solving analysis with quantitative techniques to inform local planning and decision-making.
The framework allows for the development of locally appropriate strategies to overcome identified health system constraints and it estimates cost and impact should such strategies be implemented.
The varied success of this initiative in terms of influencing annual plans and budgets reflects the political nature of resource allocation and the need to embed such approaches in the local policy process.
To sustain evidence-based planning, we propose a collaborative arrangement that allows researchers to address specific evidence gaps and health managers to focus on their core business of delivering universal health coverage.
Duncanson, K et al. BMC Public Health, 2012; 12: 564
The Feeding Healthy Food to Kids (FHFK) Randomised Control Trial (RCT) examines the impact of providing low cost, self-directed nutrition and parenting resources to rural parents, on child dietary intake and parent-child feeding practices.
By The Children’s Commissioner (2012)
A paper by the children’s watchdog for England examined inequalities in health service outcomes for children, and made a series of recommendations for tackling them.
By Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2012)
This guidance was produced in collaboration with the Royal College of Midwives and the National Childbirth Trust and aims to give CCGs advice and evidence-based information relating to some key issues to the commissioning and provision of maternity services in England.
By Department of Health (2012)
This guidance provides a structured approach on common issues associated with maternal mental health and wellbeing, from pregnancy through the early months after the birth. It focuses on the role of the health visitor but also recognises the contributions of partners in midwifery, mental health, general practice and the third sector. It aims to strengthen the consistent provision support and care through enhanced partnership working.
By The Royal College of Midwives (2012)
This study looks at examples of innovative practice across England and shows how midwives are leading on improving services for women and families and generating savings. It concludes that it is possible to deliver high quality, safe and effective care when midwives are engaged and lead on innovation and emphasises the important role that clinical leadership plays in enabling innovation and improvement to take place.
By NHS Commissioning Board
The NHS Commissioning Board Authority has set out its plan for a small number of national networks to improve health services for specific patient groups or conditions. Called strategic clinical networks, these organisations will build on the success of network activity in the NHS which, over the last 10 years, has led to significant improvements in the delivery of patient care.
Strategic clinical networks, hosted and funded by the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB), will cover conditions or patient groups where improvements can be made through an integrated, whole system approach. These networks will help local commissioners of NHS care to reduce unwarranted variation in services and encourage innovation.
By The Children and Young People’s Health Outcomes Forum (2012)
The independent Forum, which was asked by the Secretary of State to help develop a new strategy for improving care for children and young people, identified several themes that it says are key to making the improvements needed:
By Hallum Centre for Community Justice (2012)
A study mapped the health needs and healthcare of childbearing women in prison. Childbearing women in prison and their babies were more likely than the general population to experience perinatal and maternal mortality and morbidity, and might also suffer separation and distress that could be alleviated.