Category: Department of Health

Department of Health and Social Care 2020–21

Annual report and accounts

Source: House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts

This report finds that the Department for Health and Social Care lost 75 per cent of the £12 billion it spent on personal protective equipment (PPE) in the first year of the pandemic to inflated prices and kit that did not meet requirements – including £4 billion of PPE that will not be used in the NHS and needs to be disposed of. The report also voices concerns about the risk of further payouts as NHS commissioning is restructured under upcoming reforms.

Using Health Data

Better, broader, safer: using health data for research and analysis

Department of Health and Social Care; April 7 2022

Professor Ben Goldacre was commissioned by the government in February 2021 to review how to improve safety and security in the use of health data for research and analysis. The report makes 185 recommendations that would benefit patients and the health care sector. It is aimed at policy-makers in the NHS and government, research funders and those who use the data for service planning, public health management and medical research.

Chief Medical Officer’s annual report 2020

Health trends and variation in England

Source: The King’s Fund Health Management and Policy Alert

After a brief section on the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in England, the main report consists of a collection of charts that present a broad and high-level overview of the nation’s health across a range of health outcomes and public health indicators. A key theme is the variation in health that exists across different dimensions: over geographies, over time, and between groups of people.

To find out more click here.

Public Health

Current Awareness

Health matters: cold weather and COVID-19 Public Health England

(As we approach the first winter with coronavirus (COVID-19) circulating, it’s essential that action is taken across the health and social care sector to enable people to stay safe and well and to ensure that the NHS is not overwhelmed. This edition of Health Matters will cover the impact of cold weather on health, how COVID-19 amplifies cold-related risks, and actions that can be taken to prevent harm, particularly to those most vulnerable.)

KINSHIP IN THE CITY REPORT: Urban Loneliness and the built environment Future Spaces Foundation

(This report explores the impact of urban loneliness and ideas for reshaping our built environment to improve social cohesion. Produced as part of the Future Spaces Foundation’s Vital Cities programme, it builds on our existing body of research into the building blocks of dynamic, socially sustainable cities where individuals and communities can thrive.)

Play and social skills may protect children who have difficulties with spoken language.
NIHR Evidence; 2020.

(NIHR Alert. Researchers looked at the social and play skills of young children with developmental language disorder (DLD). They found that those with good early social and play skills developed fewer behaviour or mental health problems as they grew up. The research suggests that therapies and education techniques based on play and understanding other children could help children with DLD avoid later problems.)

COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2020.

[Updated guidance in line with national restrictions commencing 5 November 2020.]

Behaviour change: guides for national and local government and partners.
Public Health England (PHE); 2020.

(Based on the Behaviour Change Wheel framework, these guides are for national and local government and partners, such as the NHS, emergency services and third sector, to support people to have healthier behaviours.
6 November 2020: Added document: ‘Achieving behaviour change: a guide for national government’ and policies to change behaviour.)

Community pharmacies: promoting health and wellbeing NICE

(This quality standard covers how community pharmacies can support the health and wellbeing of the local population. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.)

Performance Tracker 2020: How public services have coped with coronavirus.
Institute for Government; 2020.

(This report analyses the disruptions in hospitals, general practice, adult social care, schools and criminal courts, and the changes made in response. It finds that coronavirus has resulted in backlogs across public services and calls for reviews of the impact of remote general practice and hospital appointments.)

Top tips for travelling safely in the UK

With ‘staycations’ becoming the new vacations, follow these top tips for your safety

UK Gov have highlighted 5 top tips for getting out and about in the UK:

  1. Know before you go – check whether the places you are visiting have any additional measure in place
  2. Follow advice on social distancing – keep your distance from people not in your household (2m if you can), avoid crowded places and try to avoid travelling on public transport at peak times
  3. Wash your hands regularly – take hand sanitiser with you in no washing facilities are available
  4. Check guidance on face coverings – ensure you travel with one and know where you will need to wear this
  5. Enjoy green spaces – remember to follow the Countryside Code

For more information click here.

Staying safe while travelling abroad

Keep up to date with health risks of your destination

The government has recently made changes to its travel policies, with the requirement to self isolate for 14 days being lifted for certain countries. Remember the current advice is to avoid all but essential international travel, however these countries are exempt from this advice.

Click here for advice and guidance about what to pack, what to do when you arrive at your destination and what you need to do on return to the UK.

Greenspaces

Compelling evidence shows that access to greenspaces really matters for our health

Now more than ever we are becoming more dependent on outdoor spaces to improve our health and wellbeing. Green environments are associated with reduced levels of depression, anxiety and fatigue and can enhance quality of life for both children and adults.

Access to good quality greenspaces, such as parks, allotments, woodlands and fields varies greatly on where we live. However, evidence suggests that the most economically deprived areas often have less available public greenspace, meaning people in those communities have fewer opportunities to reap the rewards.

The new report from PHE offers policy, practice and research recommendations. Click here to find out more.

Health profile for England: 2019

Department of Health and Social Care, September 2019

This report combines data and knowledge with information from other sources to give a broad picture of the health of people in England in 2019. It includes life expectancy, trends in mortality and morbidity, and inequalities in health.

Click here to view the full report.

Role and Responsibilities: Adult Principal Social Worker (PSW)

Department of Health and Social Care, July 2019

This guidance sets out the role, function and purpose of a PSW in adult services.It helps support employers when recruiting to the role of adult PSW and clarifies what social workers and other practitioners can expect from the PSW in their organisation.

Click here to view the guidance.