Category: NHS

King’s Fund Podcast

Can the NHS be a truly flexible workplace?

‘How is it possible for a newly qualified nurse to work flexibly? How is it possible for a junior doctor to work flexibly? That was the thinking behind Flex NHS.’ In the latest episode of The King’s Fund podcast, they sit down with Kate Jarman, Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs at Milton Keynes University Hospital and co-founder of Flex NHS to discuss what working flexibly means in practice, communicating during Covid-19 and activism in the health service.

King’s Fund Podcast – a flexible NHS

To listen to the podcast, click the image above.

Improving the nation’s health

The future of the public health system in England

Source: King’s Fund Health Management and Policy Alert

In light of the impact of the pandemic and the government’s decision to abolish Public Health England (PHE), this briefing explores what needs to be put in place to make progress on the government’s commitments to improve the nation’s health. It looks at the role the government can play in improving the nation’s health before examining how England might transition to a new public health system and what the main priorities for any new system should be.

To find out more click here.

Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation

Advice on priority groups for Covid-19 vaccination

Source: Gov.uk

This advice is provided to facilitate the development of policy on Covid-19 vaccination in the UK.

JCVI advises that the first priorities for any COVID-19 vaccination programme should be the prevention of COVID-19 mortality and the protection of health and social care staff and systems. Secondary priorities could include vaccination of those at increased risk of hospitalisation and at increased risk of exposure, and to maintain resilience in essential public services. This document sets out a framework for refining future advice on a national COVID-19 vaccination strategy.

To read the report click here.

Spending Review 2020

Policy paper

Source: Kings Fund

The Spending Review 2020 prioritises funding to support the government’s response to Covid-19, invest in the UK’s recovery and deliver on promises to the British people. It sets departmental budgets for 2021-22 and devolved administrations’ block grants for the same period.

For more information click here.

Creating community spaces for patient wellbeing

How could the NHS better use its facilities to support social prescribing, holistic care and community resilience?

Source: Kings Fund

The NHS long-term plan has pledged to refer at least 900,000 people to social prescribing by 2023/24 to help improve people’s wellbeing; the fitter, healthier and more socially connected people are, the less likely it is they’ll need to access local GP or other health professionals. This research, based on a survey conducted with more than 2,000 people in England, shows that there’s also a strong appetite from the public for these services.

To read the long term plan click here.

Public Health

Current Awareness

Staying mentally well: winter plan 2020 to 2021 Gov.uk. 23rd November 2020

(This plan sets out the support that will be in place in the immediate term to help support individuals to stay well during the second wave of Covid-19 and the winter months ahead.)

Learning from local authorities with downward trends in childhood obesity Public Health England

(This report, a set of practice examples researched by University College London and an executive summary by Public Health England, identifies common approaches being implemented by local authorities that had a small but significant 10-year downward trend in childhood obesity. The findings show the value of engagement with and integration of the National Child Measurement Programme and the importance of addressing health inequalities, with 76 per cent of local authorities having a focus on deprivation.) To view the summary click here.

How are the lives of families with young children changing? The changing face of early childhood in the UK Nuffield Foundation

(This evidence review reveals the extent of changes to family life in the UK over the past 20 years and highlights how these changes are experienced unequally across the population. The report argues that, without understanding family life today, the policies and initiatives that seek to address other key areas of society – education, the economy, physical health and mental health – will falter.)

National Child Measurement Programme: childhood obesity.
Public Health England (PHE); 2020.

(Research by University College London shares learning from local authorities that have a downward trend in childhood obesity, including practice examples.)

COVID-19: suggested principles of safer singing.
Public Health England (PHE); 2020.

(Outlining the available evidence on virus transmission associated with singing and suggested actions to reduce the risk of transmission while singing.)

The state of ageing in 2020.
Centre for Ageing Better; 2020.

(This online, interactive report captures a snapshot of how people in the UK are ageing today, while looking at past trends and our prospects if action isn’t taken. It warns that the Covid-19 pandemic risks setting people in mid-life on a path to poverty and ill health in old age.)

Covid 19

Winter Plan

The UK Government’s COVID-19 Winter Plan presents a programme for suppressing the virus, protecting the NHS and the vulnerable, keeping education and the economy going and providing a route back to normality. The plan sets out the Government’s approach to ending the national restrictions on 2 December.

To find out more or read the summary click here.

Allied Health Professionals

Research project opportunity

We have joined up with UHMB Library and Knowledge Services within the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust to deliver a program on evidence based practice.

The project aims to:

  • Map the distribution of AHPs across the ICP, breaking it down by professional role, who they work for and who they serve including any cross-organisational working
  • Increase the awareness of Library services and provide support to aid with the treatment of patients
  • Facilitate links across the Trust and within local authorities to create long lasting contacts and to share knowledge and good practice
  • Offer an educational programme of evidence-based practice based on the concept of critically appraised topics supported by a series of lectures and workshops delivered by Lancaster University
  • Stimulate engagement with research and service development in the ICP and provide the groundwork for research collaboration
  • Equip staff with the knowledge, confidence and support to undertake their own research projects

The project is open to all Allied Health Professionals across the Trust. If you are interested please email your details (name, job role, contact information, place of work) to katie.roper@lscft.nhs.uk

Covid 19

The impact of health for NHS Staff

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

This report reveals the extensive mental and physical health impact on the NHS, and health and care professionals across the UK, as a result of working and living through Covid-19. It also identifies organisational priorities for recovery, both as the country enters the next phase of the pandemic and for the longer term.

Doctor, Nurse, Nhs, Medical, Health, Hospital

To find out more click here.