Health Care – Lancashire & South Cumbria Library Blog

Dementia bulletin

Hi all,

The latest dementia bulletin from Mersey Care Evidence and Library Service has now been published at https://www.evidentlybetter.org/dementia/2026/03/30-march-2026/

In this issue:

Association of diabetes severity with cognitive function in US adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the AI-READI multicentre cohort
SAFER-Dem: generating co-designed adaptations to a discharge care planning bundle for people living with dementia
Nutritional status, Mediterranean diet adherence, and quality of life in older adults with dementia: A cross-sectional study
Plus much more

Please let us know if there are other people who you think might benefit from receiving this bulletin.

Suicide Prevention and Self Harm bulletin

Dear all,

The latest Suicide Prevention and Self Harm bulletin from Mersey Care Evidence and Library Service can now be viewed at https://www.evidentlybetter.org/bulletins/suicide-prevention/

This webpage features key links and emerging reports about suicide prevention.

In this issue:

Risk of Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Behavior in Older Adults With Severe Vision Loss
Emotion Regulation and Depressive Symptoms Mediate the Association between Chronotype and Suicidality
Parental violent offending and offspring suicidal behavior: a nationwide register-based study
Asking preadolescents about suicide does not increase suicidal thoughts
Plus much more

Depression and Anxiety Bulletin

Dear all,

The latest Depression & Anxiety Bulletin from Mersey Care Evidence and Library Service is ready for you to view at https://www.evidentlybetter.org/depression-anxiety/2026/04/13-april-2026/

In this edition:

The interplay of multimorbidity and depressive symptoms: mediation role of functional dependence
Maternal communication and attachment following a group singing intervention for postnatal depression: findings from the SHAPER-PND trial
Extending the ecological model of distress to social functioning among refugees and asylum seekers
Plus much more

Report

Independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism: interim report.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2026.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-into-mental-health-conditions-adhd-and-autism-interim-report
[Interim report outlining progress on the independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism.]
Freely available online

Report

Shaping neighbourhood health: reflections and insights from mental health providers.

The NHS Alliance; 2026.

https://thenhsalliance.org/resources/shaping-neighbourhood-health-reflections-and-insights-from-mental-health-providers

[This briefing shares reflections and insights on the development of neighbourhood health, early lessons, and ongoing challenges and barriers for mental health trusts.]
Freely available online

Silver Award

We are pleased to announce that the Lancashire Health Hub was awarded the Silver Prize at the LIHNN Service Developments Awards last week. The Library team works in part of collaboration between the Lancashire Council and 4 other local NHS Trusts to educate professionals around health/digital literacy and ensure the public have a ‘one stop’ shop for reliable health related information. If you haven’t taken a look, please visit: Lancashire Health Hub | Health Information Lancashire. Our simply aim is to help the people of Lancashire find trusted health information with ease.

Record number of dementia diagnoses on NHS

A recent NHS milestone shows 506,549 people in the UK have received a dementia diagnosis, up from 490,163 a year ago—reflecting improved awareness and access to testing under the NHS 10 Year Health Plan.

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has also launched MinderCare, an at-home monitoring service using discreet sensors on beds, appliances, and doorways. It helps clinical teams monitor routines, medication responses, and early signs of decline—supporting safer, more responsive care at home.

In the past year, the NHS delivered 330,460 care plans or reviews and 114,447 medication reviews, reinforcing a stronger support system for those with dementia.

Creative Arts for Dementia – Insights from NIHR ARCs Webinar

A recent NIHR ARCs webinar on 9 July 2025 highlighted the impact of creative arts on dementia care. Over three concise 10-minute talks, researchers covered music therapy, singing and dancing interventions, and how creative arts can involve people living with dementia in research. The event was chaired by Dr Stephen Lim (ARC Wessex) and featured Dr Ming-Hung Hsu (East of England), Dr Megan Polden (North West Coast), and Prof Linda Clare (South West Peninsula)

The Kings Fund: Public Satisfaction with NHS and Social Care Hits Record Lows

The latest British Social Attitudes survey reveals that public satisfaction with both the NHS and social care services in the UK has reached unprecedented lows.

NHS Satisfaction: Only 21% of respondents expressed satisfaction with the NHS, marking the lowest level since the survey began in 1983. Key concerns include long waiting times, staffing shortages, and difficulties accessing services like A&E and dentistry.
Social Care Satisfaction: Satisfaction with social care services remains at a mere 13%, the lowest ever recorded. Major reasons for dissatisfaction include inadequate pay and working conditions for care workers, insufficient support for unpaid carers, and many individuals not receiving the care they need.

These findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive reforms and increased investment in both sectors to address the growing concerns of the public.

Read the full report: The King’s Fund