By Localis (2013)
This report, produced in partnership with Pfizer, assesses the recent move to a more localist health system and examines opinions on this from those in local government. It also takes stock of how councils have adapted to the return of public health to their portfolio, and the dismantling of barriers between health and social care.
By The Alzheimer’s Society (August 2013)
This report finds that while there are some excellent examples of community provision for dementia, less than half of survey respondents think their area is set up to help them live well with dementia (42%). Results also become considerably lower the more advanced the person’s dementia is. Findings show that there is significant goodwill in the community to help people with dementia live well. The report states that not only do people feel that dementia-friendly places would be better for everyone, but that for every one person with dementia that is able to stay in their own home for a year longer, rather than entering residential care, £11,000 would be saved.
By NHS England (2013)
This survey reported the views of 116,000 cancer patients in all 155 NHS Trusts that provide treatment to patients with cancer. It showed improvements in many areas since last year, and outlined very positive experiences of aspects of care including privacy, being treated with respect, being listened to and given good information.
By NICE (August 2013)
This quality standard on smoking cessation includes five statements designed to help improve the support offered to people who want to stop smoking. It recommends that primary care professionals ask patients whether they smoke, and that those who smoke are offered advice on how to stop. It also recommends that people who smoke are offered a referral to an evidence-based smoking cessation service.
By The Nuffield Trust (2013)
From 2014, personal health budgets will be offered to people in receipt of continuing care. This report looks at what they are, how they will work in practice, and the issues they raise.
By The Health Foundation (August 2013)
The revised edition offers a clear explanation of some common approaches used to improve quality, including where they have come from, their underlying principles and their efficacy and applicability within the healthcare arena. It looks in particular at what are known as organisational or industrial approaches to quality improvement. These aim to bring about a measurable improvement by applying specific methods within a healthcare setting.
Haug, S. et al. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2013; 15(8)
Smoking prevalence remains high, particularly among adolescents and young adults with lower educational levels, posing a serious public health problem. There is limited evidence of effective smoking cessation interventions in this population.
Griffiths, LJ. et al. BMJ Open, 2013; 3:e002893
These findings showed that only half of 7-year-old children in the UK achieve recommended levels of physical activity, with significant gender, ethnic and geographic variations. The report states that further longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the relevance of these patterns for long-term health and wellbeing. It also recommends that in the meantime, population-wide efforts to boost physical activity among young people are needed, and will be reliant on a broad range of policy interventions.
By World Health Organisation (2013)
WHO calls on all countries to invest in and produce research to develop universal health coverage tailored to their country needs. “The world health report 2013: research for universal health coverage” is launched today.
By Primary Care Commissioning (2013)
Asthma is one of the most challenging long term conditions for patients and the NHS – with the UK having the highest prevalence of asthma in the world. To help improve asthma care, PCC has produced a good practice guide with input from the major professional bodies, patient groups and health service managers. It sets out the 15 points that good asthma services need to include, with detailed advice for commissioners and service developers together with examples of good practice.