Knowledge @lert for Wednesday 30th April
Stevens sets out alternative approach to small hospitals
The merger or closure of small hospitals might not be the best way forward for an already “centralised” English NHS, Simon Stevens has told the Commons health committee. The NHS England chief executive’s comments mark a significant change in direction from his predecessor Sir David Nicholson, who favoured centralising most specialist services into 15-30 centres.
- Contact the Library & Knowledge Service to request this HSJ article or Phn. 01704 704202
Later arrival at hospital means staying for days longer – HSJ Article
Being admitted to hospital a few hours later in the day often means patients spending several days longer on wards, according to new analysis shared with HSJ. The dramatic variation is the main finding of research by a team of NHS analysts who specialise in emergency hospital care.
- Contact the Library & Knowledge Service to request this HSJ article or Phn. 01704 704202
Everyone can help make the NHS run 24 hours – HSJ Article
Just as ill health does not respect the working week, neither does it respect circadian rhythm, it seems. The phrase “seven-day services” reflects the existing focus on patient outcomes at the weekend, underpinned by well reported data.
- Contact the Library & Knowledge Service to request this HSJ article or Phn. 01704 704202
Guidance: Improving children and young people’s health
- ensuring useful engagement with children and young people so that their views are asked for, listened to and acted upon
- ensuring that all people who work with children and young people are properly trained and have the right skills, attitudes and behaviour
- ensuring that the incentives for developing children and young people’s services encourage prevention, early intervention, and safe and sustainable services
- ensuring that the children and young people’s health outcomes are measured properly and that progress is reviewed
- data sharing and integration
- ensuring that children and young people’s services are accountable at a national and local level
Policy paper: Helping people live well for longer
It includes actions already taken in prevention, early diagnosis and treatment.
It focuses on the 5 big killers:
- cancer
- stroke
- heart disease
- lung disease
- liver diseases
It includes examples of good practice and help for local commissioning and service delivery.
Framework for measuring and monitoring safety
The Health Foundation has published Practical guide – A framework for measuring and monitoring safety. It aims to help those working in the NHS answer the question ‘How safe is our care?’ and bring about constructive change. The guide describes some broad principles to bear in mind when using the framework and provides some prompts for each of the framework’s dimensions to help people focus on some of the main challenges to understanding safety.
Public Health – one year on
The Local Government Association has published Public Health – one year on. The report was commissioned to capture the thoughts of those working to make the new public health system work within local authorities after the move from the NHS in April 2013. It includes contributions from councilors, directors of public health, providers, commissioners, GPs, academics and other key decision makers.
QS61 Infection prevention and control (QS61) – National Institute for Care and Excellence (NICE)
Health Statistics
Expenditure on Healthcare in the UK – 2012
Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator (SHMI) – Deaths associated with hospitalisation, England, October 2012 – September 2013, Experimental Statistics