Category: NHS

Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

Increased inequalities and barriers to healthy eating and exercise during lockdown for those with obesity.
Carried out by Frankie Marcelline from Brighton and Sussex on 8/3/2021
https://www.knowledgeshare.nhs.uk/index.php?PageID=literature_search_request_download&RequestID=27968
(This evidence search report includes studies and reports on barriers to healthy eating and exercise that people have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in the UK. People with obesity in particular may have poorer mental health and are at higher risk of additional challenges during this lockdown as they are likely to be isolating and find it harder to exercise or eat well. Also includes results focused on what support is required for people with obesity in the post-Covid recovery.)

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy – debunking the myths using a community engagement approach underpinned by NICE guidance.
NICE Shared Learning Database; 2021.

(Shared learning case study. This example describes how GPs from Black Women in Health (BWIH) reduced COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy amongst the BAME population by debunking the myths about COVID-19 vaccines by organising webinars, virtual group talks, podcasts, videos in other languages and dialects. The approach to community engagement was informed by recommendations from NICE’s guidance for Community engagement: improving health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities.)

The NHS’s role in tackling poverty: awareness, action and advocacy The King’s Fund

(One of the main drivers behind the creation of the NHS was to protect the poorest in society from being bankrupted by the need to pay for care. But the NHS can do more to mitigate, prevent and reduce poverty. This report sets out what the NHS, as the largest economic institution in the country, needs to maximise its contribution to tackling poverty, within its resources and with its partners.)

COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing – GOV.UK

(Advice for parents and carers on looking after the mental health and wellbeing of children or young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.)

NHS Leadership Academy

How might leadership roles evolve in integrated health and care systems?

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

This report for the NHS Leadership Academy explores some of the implications of the long-term plan and its supporting plans on leadership within local health and care systems, the roles that may emerge over time, and what knowledge, skills and support leaders need in the future. The report provides an overview of research carried out to better understand how leadership roles are changing in the health and social care sector, especially in collaborative and integrated health and care systems.

For more information click here.

Royal College of Nursing

Independent Review

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

This report of an independent review finds that the government’s Covid-19 infection control guidelines, which are used across the UK, are in need of updating. It calls for all NHS staff to be given a higher level of personal protective equipment as a precautionary measure pending the outcome of a review. 

For more information click here.

Improving Patient Care

How PCNs are working in partnership to support mental health


Source: NHS Confederation; 2021.

This briefing was developed jointly by the NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network and PCN Network and provides examples of three models of partnership working that are currently underway in primary care to support mental health at place level.

Key points include:

  • A seamless referral system between primary and secondary care is important for patients who have mental health needs.
  • Early interventions for young people can be very cost effective and improve access and outcomes in mental health, wellbeing, and physical health.
  • Working in partnership across the community, and pooling knowledge, resources and assets is important for improving access to services, providing cost effective interventions, and improving outcomes.
  • Joining up primary care and mental health services is essential. Primary care can help people who have milder mental health issues access support and reduce referral to secondary mental health services.

Covid 19

Current Awareness Updates

Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination statistics, plans and documentation.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2021.

(This page brings together COVID-19 vaccination programme-related documents published by DHSC, and vaccination statistics published by other bodies within the UK.)

Second quarterly report on progress to address Covid-19 health inequalities Race Disparity Unit, Cabinet Office; February 2021

(The first report on progress to address Covid-19 health inequalities was published in October 2020. It concluded that a range of socio-economic and geographical factors coupled with pre-existing health conditions were contributing to the higher infection and mortality rates for ethnic minority groups. This second report now looks at those causes in more detail and sets out some of the work being undertaken to fill the gaps in our understanding and to mitigate the risks of Covid-19 infection. It sets out the progress made under the terms of reference and in implementing the recommendations from the first report.)

The other pandemic: the impact of Covid-19 on Britain’s mental health Public First

(In February 2021 Public First polled 4,000 people and held 12 in-depth focus groups with people from across Britain. The findings, published in this report, show that coronavirus has taken a toll on mental health in all parts of society – but especially women, the less well-off and young people.)

New WHO expert group to identify gaps and solutions to the mental health impacts of COVID-19.
World Health Organization (WHO); 2021.

(The group, tasked with reviewing evidence, identifying gaps and exploring solutions, will inform and support countries’ efforts in addressing mental health needs within and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.)

COVID-19: ventilation of indoor spaces to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.

(Guidance, advice and information on how ventilation of indoor spaces can help to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), including how to increase ventilation at home and in other settings.)

Earthquakes and COVID-19
Orlu FN. British Journal of Psychiatry 2021;218(3):172.

(Mental health services at all levels, including psychological services in primary care, bereavement services and secondary mental health services need to start preparing for post-lockdown demand for care by making arrangements for how they will manage increased demands for services. Mental health promotion should be launched now and after the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent an overloading of the National Health Service via the mental health services’ route.)

COVID-19 and Obesity: The 2021 Atlas. The cost of not addressing the global obesity crisis.
World Obesity; 2021.

(Through detailed analyses of the latest peer-reviewed data, we demonstrate how overweight is a highly significant predictor of developing complications from COVID-19, including the need for hospitalisation, for intensive care and for mechanical ventilation. Overweight is also a predictor of death from COVID-19.)

Remote engagement: removing barriers to inclusion in the context of COVID-19.
Centre for Ageing Better; 2021.

(This short paper outlines approaches and techniques to carrying out user engagement and coproduction activities where traditional face to face methods aren’t possible. It includes case studies of good practice from initiatives including Trailblazer projects Business Health Matters and Blackwood Neighbourhoods for Independent Living. )

Workforce Race Equality Standard

2020 data analysis report for NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups

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

This report enables organisations to compare their performance with others in their region and those providing similar services, with the aim of encouraging improvement by learning and sharing good practice. The report hopes to provide a national picture of WRES in practice, to colleagues, organisations and the public on the developments in the workforce race equality agenda.

Covid 19

Current Awareness Updates

The impact of Covid-19 on the lives of Latin American migrants IRMO Research Report; Feb 2021

(This report reveals the intersecting crises of rising unemployment, abusive employment practices, inadequate housing and increasing food poverty facing the Latin American community. This is compounded by digital exclusion and the language barrier, meaning that many find it difficult to access mainstream support. The lack of access to basic health care raises concerns about the rollout of the vaccine among the community.)

Community testing – GOV.UK

(Community asymptomatic testing helps identify and isolate individuals who have coronavirus (COVID-19) but do not have symptoms.)

COVID-19: migrant health guide – GOV.UK

(Advice and guidance for healthcare practitioners on the health needs of migrant patients.)

Protecting and supporting the clinically extremely vulnerable during lockdown.
National Audit Office (NAO); 2021.

(Report looks at how effectively government identified and met the needs of clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) people. It found there was impressive initial support offered to many people, but it took time for people to be identified as CEV, and therefore access formal support.)

NHS performance summary: December 2020-January 2021

Monthly round-up of the latest NHS performance data.

Source: KnowledgeShare

NHS England and NHS Digital have published the latest data on key activity and performance measures for December of last year and January of this year. Urgent and Emergency Care Daily Situation Reports were also published for the first week of February, giving a more up-to-date analysis of how the NHS is coping this winter. They show some of these statistics and how they compare with previous trends.

Read the summary here.