By the GMC (2012)
Month: October 2012
Dixon-Woods, M. et al. BMJ Quality & Safety, 2012;21:876-884
Formal evaluations of programmes are an important source of learning about the challenges faced in improving quality in healthcare and how they can be addressed. The authors aimed to integrate lessons from evaluations of the Health Foundation’s improvement programmes with relevant literature.
Best, A. et al. The Millbank Quarterly, 2012; 90 (3): 421-456
Realist review methodology can be applied in combination with a complex system lens on published literature to produce a knowledge synthesis
that informs a prospective change effort in large-system transformation.
A collaborative process engaging both research producers and research users
contributes to local applications of universal principles and mid-range theories,
as well as to a more robust knowledge base for applied research. We conclude
with suggestions for the future development of synthesis and evaluation
methods.
By Right Care (September 2012)
This case study from West Cheshire PCT and CCGs demonstrates the use of Right Care principles to identify service improvements that can generate savings for re-investment, service quality, and outcomes improvements. It combines the use of spend and outcome tools, analysis of variation, and programme budgeting with service reviews and business process engineering techniques to deliver reform, innovation and efficiency proposals. £7 million was generated across three service areas in one wave of service reviews, as part of a successful £15m QIPP programme. The approach has already been replicated in other CCGs in the region and has contributed to successful CCG authorisation panel reviews.
By NHS Alliance (October 2012)
This report is designed to help commissioners implement effective integrated urgent care strategies in their local areas.
Click here to view this report
Sweeting, HN. et al. BMJ Open, 2012; 2:e001446
The authors note that while there is concern about the negative impact of modern consumer culture on young people’s mental health, very few studies have investigated associations with substance use. In those which have, positive associations have been attributed to attempts to satisfy the unmet needs of more materialistic individuals. This study examines associations between different dimensions of consumerism and tobacco and alcohol use among Scottish early adolescents.
By the International Association for the Study of Obesity (July 2012)
According to this report, advertising of junk food continues to undermine children’s health despite the food industry’s promises that they would restrict their marketing activities. The review of advertising in Europe undertaken by IASO, a not-for-profit organisation, found that the industry’s own figures show that children’s exposure to advertisements for fatty and sugary foods had fallen by barely a quarter over the last six years.
By NICE (2012)
NICE commissioning guides are topic-specific, web-based resources.
Each commissioning guide comprises a series of text-based web pages that signpost and provide topic-specific information on key clinical and service-related issues to consider during the commissioning process. Each guide contains a commissioning and benchmarking tool, which is a resource that can be used to estimate and inform the level of service needed locally as well as the cost of local commissioning decisions.
By NHS Right Care (September 2012)
In revealing the extent of variation in clinical activity and outcomes, the indicators presented in this new Atlas underline the substantial scope clinicians and commissioners have to improve outcomes by ensuring that all patients receive the quality of care that is delivered in the best-performing localities.
By East and South East England Specialist Pharmacy Services (September 2012)
Optimising medicines use in care pathways using pharmacy support and the Medicines in Commissioning Toolkit are two key interlinked resources that have been revised and updated to support commissioners to help ensure care pathways which involve medicines deliver improved patient outcomes, are safe, use clinical and cost effective treatment options, offer patient choice and the best patient experience
The resources emphasise the delivery of QIPP and the NHS Outcomes Framework, and, above all, demonstrate how to maximise patient outcomes through medicines optimisation.
Both will also be useful to service providers, helping them to identify and address medicines-related issues in service specifications and comply with Care Quality Commission (CQC) Outcome 9 (Medicines Management).
In the current, rapidly changing, NHS environment these documents will provide a valuable starting point for local discussions between pharmacists and commissioners about the benefits and practicalities of commissioning medicines management support and appropriate pharmaceutical care for patients prescribed.