£800 million tender for NHS

Supporting the provision of digital solutions

Launched by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) the tender covers the provision and support of IT systems for NHS Digital and other public and health care bodies.

“The framework is intended to address the evolving technical “stacks” associated within the different pillars of NHS Digital, including platforms and infrastructure; product development; and data services.” (Andrea Downey)

Up to 12 suppliers will be chosen to develop strategic relationships, provide support networks, and improve data management services. The tender is open for applications until 3pm on the 24th September 2020. To find out more click here.

NHS Reset

A campaign to shape what the health and care system could look life post COVID

Mental health services have faced unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19. They quickly and effectively moved to different ways of working to protect service users and staff. As we move to the next phase of the pandemic, we expect demand for mental health support to increase and to remain high for some time. This will have serious implications on resourcing and staff wellbeing.

This report from the NHS Reset campaign considers what mental health services need to prepare for, for the expected surge in demand. It also highlights how the health and care system can ‘reset’ the way care and support are planned and delivered in aftermath of COVID-19.

To find out more about the campaign click here.

Listening into Action (LiA)

Influencing our future at the NHS

The team want your input, opinions and ideas to identify ways we can improve as a Trust, to enhance not only your experience, but fellow colleagues, service users and patients. Their aim is to make the Trust a great place to work in, which in turn will only have a positive impact on the quality of care provided to our patients.

The LiA team held an event on Tuesday to celebrate the achievements already made. from 1st July 2019, 6,489 ideas for change were identified by staff within the trust. From that 15 teams were created to improve staff experience, from digital teams to equality and diversity, all staff from all stages in their career were listened to. Take a look at the different teams and their accomplishments here.

To complete the survey and voice your opinions, complete this survey by Friday, 4th September.

NHS England

People plan for 2020-2021

The plan sets out what the NHS people can expect from their leaders and each other. It outlines practical actions for employers and systems and includes specific commitments about:

  • Looking after our people – with quality health and wellbeing support for everyone
  • Belonging in the NHS – with a particular focus on tackling the discrimination that some staff face
  • New ways of working and delivering care – making effective use of the full range of our people’s skills and experience
  • Growing for the future – how we recruit and keep our people, and welcome back colleagues who want to return

To find out more or join the conversation click here.

Coronavirus Murals

Inside the world of pandemic-inspired street art

There is no aspect of life the COVID-19 pandemic has not affected and the art and culture scene is no exception. Street artists all over the world have ventured out into quiet streets and left behind vibrant, thought-provoking, amusing commentary on the crisis with many depicting front-line NHS workers as the real heroes in this crisis.

Read more here

National workforce plan for Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs)

Department of Health and Social Care, November 2019

Understanding the role of AMHPs in mental health services to help with recruitment and retention of the role in local areas. This document is a resource for agencies wishing to develop their AMHP services and aims to explain the role of AMHPs in mental health services. It contains a summary of all the current guidance. It is for local authorities, directors of adult and children’s social care, NHS mental health trusts, and integrated care system workforce leads.

Click here to view the full report.

A descriptive analysis of health care use by high cost, high need patients in England

The Health Foundation, November 2019

The Health Foundation report exploring health care use by the top 5 per cent of users of primary and secondary care services by cost.

• Despite the increasing financial pressure on the NHS over the past decades, there has been little research to understand the distribution and concentration of health care costs across the population.

• This paper explores for the first time the distribution of both primary and secondary health care costs in England, including GP-prescribed drug cost. Identifying high-cost, high-need patients and examining the way in which they use health care services might help to design initiatives to reduce costs or to improve efficiency.

Click here to view the full report.