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
Category: NHS
Supporting Neurodivergent Practitioners
The Role of NHS Resolution’s Practitioner Performance Advice Service
In today’s NHS, we are not only recognising but celebrating the extraordinary value that neurodivergent practitioners bring to healthcare. A GP with ADHD may channel energy and rapid problem-solving into thriving under pressure. An autistic surgeon may bring unparalleled depth of focus and precision to complex procedures. These are not just individual strengths, they are assets to patient care and to the teams they work within. Neurodivergent professionals enrich our workforce with fresh perspectives, exceptional skills, and a diversity of thinking that drives innovation and excellence across the NHS.
Find out more: Supporting Neurodivergent Practitioners: The Role of NHS Resolution’s Practitioner Performance Advice Service – NHS Resolution
NHS providing training to spot early signs of eating disorders
New guidance for professionals working with children
The NHS has launched new national guidance and training to help teachers, GPs, and school nurses identify early signs of eating disorders in children and young people. This follows a significant rise in demand for specialist eating disorder services, with cases increasing from 8,034 in 2019/20 to 11,174 in 2024/25.
A key change in the guidance is a move away from relying on BMI thresholds, which NHS England now considers outdated and potentially unsafe. Instead, professionals are advised to look at behaviour changes, eating patterns, rapid weight loss, psychological distress, and family concerns to support early intervention. [nationalhe…cutive.com]
The new online training, developed with the charity Beat and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, will help staff outside specialist services recognise warning signs and understand referral routes. Every area in England now has access to specialist children’s eating disorder services, and the average treatment wait time is around three weeks from referral.
NHS England » NHS staff to train teachers, school nurses, and GPs to spot eating disorders
Making Every Contact Count
The most recent Make Every Contact count public heath bulletin looking at latest evidence around smoking cessation, alcohol, healthy weight, healthy eating and physical exercise is now available. The bulletin is produced by Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS FT Library staff. If you cannot access any of the articles included in the bulletin please contact academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk.
Smoking Cessation
Alcohol
Healthy Weight
Healthy Eating
Physical Activity
Supporting partnership working in local communities
Strong partnership working is essential for improving health and wellbeing, especially when challenges are complex and cross organisational boundaries.
A new 2025 report from The Kings Fund shares learning from the Healthy Communities Together programme. Drawing on real experience of setting up and running the programme, the report offers practical insight into what helps partnerships work well at a local level.
Key themes include the importance of trust, shared purpose and clear relationships, as well as the time and support needed to build partnerships that feel meaningful rather than transactional. The learning is particularly relevant for those working across health, local government, voluntary sector and community organisations, where collaboration is central to tackling health inequalities.
This report provides useful guidance for anyone involved in developing or supporting partnership working and offers realistic reflections on both the opportunities and the challenges involved.
The full report is freely available online: How To Support Partnership Working | The King’s Fund
Library Newsletter
Keep up to date with current news and resources in our monthly newsletter.
Please get in touch for any support accessing any materials mentioned in this months update: academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk
Securing the NHS Workforce for the Future
The King’s Fund has published a detailed set of recommendations to help secure the future NHS workforce. The work recognises that people are the NHS’s greatest resource and that real progress depends on strong plans, good leadership and meaningful engagement with staff.
The report highlights key areas such as improving staff health and wellbeing, fostering compassionate leadership, and giving staff a voice in decision making. It also calls for workforce planning that is realistic about training times, shifts in where care is delivered, and the skills needed for new technologies.
For anyone interested in how the NHS can build a skilled and resilient workforce that delivers better care, this long read offers practical insights and thoughtful proposals.
Read the full piece from the King’s Fund here: Securing The NHS Workforce For The Future: Our Recommendations For Action | The King’s Fund
Supporting the research workforce across the NHS
A new briefing from NHS Providers brings together practical examples of how trusts are strengthening and supporting their research workforce. The resource highlights real world approaches that organisations have used to build research into everyday workforce planning, create opportunities for staff, and embed a culture of enquiry and innovation.
For teams interested in growing their research activity, the briefing offers clear and replicable ideas that can help services develop staff skills, improve evidence based practice, and support better outcomes for patients and communities.
Exploring the future of AI in NHS system leadership
NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board is looking ahead at how artificial intelligence could support better decision making across health services.
In a recent article, Shaukat Ali Khan, executive chief digital and information officer at the board, shared a vision for using AI at a strategic level. The focus is not on replacing people, but on using technology to help leaders understand demand, plan services more effectively, and improve outcomes for communities.
As AI continues to develop across the NHS, conversations like this help shape how technology can be used safely, ethically, and in ways that place people and patient care first.
Read more: A future vision for AI in system leadership at NHS West Yorkshire ICB | UKAuthority