‘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.
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.
(People with psychosis are at a high risk of social isolation, and can take part in befriending programmes. It is understood that these schemes can be mutually beneficial, but there is little research into how befrienders and patients, particularly those with mental health problems, experience such schemes. This is the first study to explore specific challenges, experiences and benefits of befriending in both volunteers and people with psychosis within the same programme.)
(Three-quarters (75%) of those aged 65 and over in England received the free vaccine so far this year – up from 72.4% at the end of the last flu season.)
(This report provides an overview of the impact of Covid-19 so far on people who use and provide long-term care in England, and of the policy and practice measures adopted to mitigate its impact. It finds that the initial policy responses did not adequately consider the social care sector and that the pandemic has laid bare longstanding problems in the long-term care system in England.)
(By 2030, there will be a 60 per cent increase in the number of individuals with caring responsibilities in the UK. This shift in the kind of work that we will be doing will require not just new funding arrangements but also robust infrastructure and working conditions. This paper proposes a network of long-term care centres that can form a key part of the new ‘caring economy’ that delivers for those who need care and those providing it.)
(The scale of digital exclusion has been highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic. Impacts on work, income, education and social life have been felt by many people across the UK. This report lays out a series of 12 recommendations calling for ambitious action from policy makers, practitioners, academics and industry to tackle this issue.)
Vera Waters is a member of the Society of Authors and has written several books including ‘Half a Rainbow: Insight into Stress’, which was first published in 1990 and ‘Another Cup: An Anthology of Encounters’ (published in 2017). Her books are collections of true stories about people she has met throughout her interesting life and career. As well as writing and speaking to audiences, Vera is a prodigious reader with a collection of over 3,500 books at home.
Vera has kindly answered a few questions for us about books that have entertained and inspired her and her work as an author.
With a background in education, Vera’s career and life experience has taken her into many varied areas and situations. Trouble Shooter, Pioneer, an Agent of Change – this is how the Press have described her over the years. From Berlin to Australia and then over 12 years in America where she is billed as an inspirational and motivational speaker or as the Virginians say a ‘Stem-Winder’.
After holding an important senior position in the NHS at a Preston based psychiatric hospital, Vera found herself advising Greater Manchester Police and Lancashire Constabulary. She was the first private counsellor to be retained by a police force and was awarded a rare Home Office Research Grant. She taught police officers of all ranks in 21 forces how to approach people with mental health issues and worked debriefing officers after traumatic events, such as the 1985 Manchester Airport disaster.
Vera’s interesting career and philosophy on life are truly inspiring and her books are filled with fascinating, moving true stories that will resonate or educate.
Read more about Vera and her diverse and fascinating career on her website. Vera’s collection of books are available to borrow now in the Gosall Library or, may be purchased online here.
Findings of this report include people consistently reporting poor experiences of NHS community mental health services, with few positive results. For example, poor experiences were reported for crisis care, accessing care, and involvement.
There are few results where the majority of people reported good experiences of mental health care. However, ‘organising care’ is an area where people were found to be more positive:
-97% of people who have been told who is in charge of organising their care and services said they knew how to contact this person if they had a concern
-91% said the person that organised their care did so ‘very well’ (58%) or ‘quite well’ (33%)
-73% reported that they were ‘always’ treated with dignity and respect (CQC)
Source: King’s Fund Health Management and Policy Alert
Monitoring the Mental Health Act is the CQC’s annual report on the use of the Mental Health Act (MHA). It looks at how providers are caring for patients, and whether patients’ rights are being protected. This year’s annual report puts a specific focus on the impact that the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has had on patients detained under the MHA, and on the services that care for and treat them.
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.
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.
