Category: Uncategorized

The NHS is ‘neither a leader nor a laggard’, but is failing on critical issues, a report finds

The NHS is ‘neither a leader nor a laggard’ when compared to health care systems of similar countries, though on some critical measures of resources and performance including key health outcomes and staff numbers the UK is falling well below average, according to a report from the King’s Fund.

Its analysis of health care systems in 19 different countries finds that the NHS offers people good protection from the potentially catastrophic costs of ill health and is run relatively efficiently, it underperforms significantly on many key health care outcomes and has fewer clinical staff than most international health systems.

How does the NHS compare to the health care systems of other countries? | The King’s Fund (kingsfund.org.uk)

Reflecting on 75 years since the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush

Think tank the King’s Fund has collated reflections on how the health and care system has changed over the past 75 years and the contributions made – and challenges faced – by the Windrush generation and their descendants working in the NHS and social care.

The project includes oral histories, videos, podcasts, blogs and interviews.

Reflecting on 75 years since the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush | The King’s Fund (kingsfund.org.uk)

Transitioning children with complex health needs into adult health services has no clear pathway, report finds

A review of the process of the transition of children and young people with complex and chronic health conditions into adult health services concludes there is no clear pathway for the transition to adult healthcare services. The report from the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership finds the process of transition and subsequent transfer is often fragmented, both within and across specialties and that adult services often sit only with primary care. The report’s recommendations highlight areas that are suitable for regular local clinical audit and quality improvement initiatives by those providing care to this group of patients.

It recommends involving young people and parent/carers in transition planning and transition to adult services, improving communication and coordination between all specialties and providing strong leadership at Board and specialty level at all stages of transition and transfer.

Ref.-417-Child-Health-The-Inbetweeners-transition-report-FINAL.pdf (hqip.org.uk)

Low pay, staff sickness and low pay undermining healthcare recruitment and retention, report says

NHS staff face a triple threat of soaring demand, staff sickness and low pay undermining healthcare staff recruitment and retention, the final report of the IPPR health and care workforce assembly, has said. Any increase in NHS staff over the last decade has been far outstripped by a soaring rise in need, the report says.

It says there are up to 10,000 ‘missing managers’ in hospitals and community settings since 2010  and more and better managers as needed as part of a 10 point plan to solve the workforce crisis. 

The 10 point plan also includes creating a ‘return to health’ scheme that matches people with long-term health conditions, who would like to return to work, with suitable health and social care jobs and a ‘comply or explain’ right to flexible working to increase support for women returning to work after maternity leave. 

finding-hope-june23.pdf (ippr.org)