Workforce shortages are stopping improvement in mental health services, House of Commons report finds

Rising demand for mental health services continues to outstrip service provision and staff shortages remain the main threat to further improvement and expansion of care, a report by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has found.
Data and information for NHS mental health services—which are vital for managing performance, developing new services and addressing inequalities—also still lag behind that available for physical health services.

Alcohol minimum pricing in Scotland has resulted in an estimated 13.4 per cent reduction in deaths, study finds

A study on alcohol minimum unit pricing in Scotland has found it resulted in an estimated 13.4% reduction in deaths and a 4.1% reduction in hospital admissions. The study also found that MUP reduced deaths and hospital admissions where alcohol consumption may be one of a range of causative factors. The findings cover the period from MUP implementation up to the end of 2020.

Evaluating the impact of minimum unit pricing for alcohol in Scotland: A synthesis of the evidence – Publications – Public Health Scotland

What role can leadership and management play in improving underperforming health care provision

This report from the Social Market Foundation examines the role that better leadership and management can play in improving underperforming health care providers and fostering more ‘outstanding’ health care providers.

A picture of health? Examining the state of leadership and management in healthcare – Social Market Foundation. (smf.co.uk)

Action needed before older people’s health problems turn into health crises, report says

Strong political leadership from the government and a drive right across the NHS and local authorities to make it happen is needed to prevent older people being admitted to hospital before small health problems mushroom into crises requiring urgent clinical support, a report from charity Age UK has said.

age_uk_briefing_state_of_health_and_care_of_older_people_july2023.pdf (ageuk.org.uk)

The NHS at 75

Think tank the IPPR has taken a look at the NHS at 75 and found that healthcare is increasingly also a central determinant of our life chances; poor healthcare not only costs people their lives, but increasingly their livelihoods and wider wellbeing. It finds many people are struggling to access the NHS healthcare they need, and people who struggle to access timely healthcare often have social or economic consequences – particularly, those who are already living with a life-limiting condition. 

Healthcare and prosperity: The NHS at 75 | IPPR

Consultation launched on Oliver McGowan draft code of practice

A consultation has been launched to consider the extent to which the Oliver McGowan code of practice on statutory learning disability and autism training provides Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered providers with the necessary guidance to meet the legislative requirement introduced by section 181 of the Health and Care Act 2022. The consultation will run until 19 September 2023.

If you have any queries on this consultation or require an alternative format, email ndld.consultation@dhsc.gov.uk.

Oliver McGowan draft code of practice – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Oliver McGowan | Oliver’s Campaign |