Eyes on Evidence

The May edition of Eyes on Evidence has been published by NICE. It includes the following items:

• Adenotonsillectomy in children with obstructive sleep apnoea
• Ibuprofen compared with indometacin for patent ductus arteriosus
• Gallbladder removal with or without bile duct imaging
• Collaborative care for depression
• End-of-life preferences of people with terminal illness who live alone
• Evidence Updates: ‘Venous thromboembolic diseases’ and ‘Interventions to reduce substance misuse among vulnerable young people’

Supporting people to manage their health – The King’s Fund

With 60 to 70 per cent of premature deaths caused by detrimental health behaviours, it is vital that people engage more with improving their own health. This paper introduces a way of conceptualising and measuring that engagement known as ‘patient activation’.

New evidence of the crisis in nurse numbers – RCN
The RCN has commented on a new report published by Health Education England.

NHS qualified nurse supply and demand – survey findings – NHS Employers 

The NHS Employers organisation is working with a range of partners from across the health system as part of a Health Education England (HEE) Steering Group to look at how we can improve the recruitment and retention of the nursing workforce.

National Care of the Dying Audit

The Royal College of Physicians, in collaboration with Marie Curie Palliative Care, has published National care of the dying audit for hospitals, England. The audit has revealed significant variations in care across hospitals in England.  It also highlighted that major improvements need to be made to ensure better care for dying people, and better support for their families, carers, friends and those important to them. While previous audits had been based on the goals of care within the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP), the new audit sampled the care of dying people in hospital, regardless of whether they were supported by the LCP or other care pathways or frameworks, and included more hospitals than the previous audits.

Training key to good end of life care – Royal College of Nursing 

An audit into the care given to dying people in hospitals has found large variations in standards of care, with particular concerns over communication with patients and their families.

Care Bill receives Royal Assent

The Care Bill has received Royal Assent, becoming the Care Act 2014.  The Care Act will enable people and their carers to be in control of their own care and support. For the first time the system will be built around each person; what they need, how they can best be cared for, and what they want. The Act will put a limit on the amount anyone will have to pay towards the costs of their care. The Act also incorporates key elements of the government’s response to the Francis Inquiry into the events at Mid Staffordshire hospital, increasing transparency and openness and helping drive up the quality of care across the system.
Additional link: DH press release

RCN hails mandatory training for support workers – RCN

The Care Bill Yesterday received Royal Assent, the last stage of its progress through Parliament. Commenting on the Bill, which includes mandatory training for health and care support workers, Dr Peter Carter hailed the provision as “a very important step in tackling one of the defining issues facing the care sector.”

CQC concludes re-inspection of Keogh special measures trusts – Health Service Journal

The Care Quality Commission has completed its inspection of the “Keogh trusts” with results expected in July.

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See, touch, hear: How to make staff feel their concerns are heard – Health Service Journal 

How can we make staff feel that they can speak out about their concerns? When it comes to supporting healthcare staff to raise concerns, Jennifer Trueland reports
that sometimes a simple approach can be best.

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Case studies: how to give staff safe space to speak out – Health Service Journal

How two trusts are encouraging staff to speak up, with a system that lets staff send anonymous missives to the chief executive and a campaign to create a listening culture.

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HSJ special report: Whistleblowing – Health Service Journal 

The Francis report recommended “employers must have robust ‘whistleblowing’ policies in place with clear procedures which enable staff to raise concerns where they identify poor practice causing unnecessary suffering and loss of dignity to service users.
This HSJ special report considers how NHS leaders can create a working environment in which communication flows freely between managers and staff.

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