Mental health services: addressing the care deficit

NHS Providers, March 2019
This report looks at the levels of demand reported by frontline leaders across the range of services they provide, and examines what lies behind the growing pressures.  In particular the report identifies widespread concerns about benefits cuts and the impact of universal credit. It also suggests that loneliness, homelessness and financial hardship are adding to pressures on NHS mental health services.
Click here to view the full report.

Improving patient safety through collaboration: a rapid review of the academic health science networks’ patient safety collaboratives

The ASHN Network, March 2019
This report discusses the progress and impact made by England’s Patient Safety Collaboratives (PSCs) in their first four years. It was commissioned by The AHSN Network and written by The King’s Fund. The report notes how interest is shifting from supporting the improvement of individual services to improving how different services work together in local systems. It highlights the role the PSC programme has had in creating a movement for change and cultivating a shared vision among health and care organisations. It also suggests some areas PSCs and national NHS bodies could focus on to further support innovation, quality improvement and patient safety.
Click here to view the full report.

Raising the bar on strength and balance: The importance of community-based provision

Centre for Ageing Better, February 2019
This report by the Centre for Ageing Better and the University of Manchester’s Healthy Ageing Research Group shows a need for sustained, targeted funding for community-based strength and balance programmes.  Despite common misconceptions, falls are not an inevitable part of ageing and can be prevented. Although there are some NHS rehabilitation services that provide strength and balance programmes, these are often of limited length, making it essential that there are effective community-based strength and balance programmes in their local areas to move on to.  The report presents possible models of delivery, issues, barriers and innovative solutions. It focuses on community-based strength and balance programmes targeting all older adults and includes evidence-based programmes to reduce falls.
Click here to view the full report.
 

Mental Health and the Armed Forces, Part Two: The Provision of Care

House of Commons Defence Committee, February 2019
This report calls on the government to establish a “world-class centre for the treatment of mental injuries” suffered by Service personnel the next 12-18 months, so that veterans and their families receive the provision and support promised in the Armed Forces Covenant.
Click here to view the full report.

First 1000 days of life

Health and Social Care Committee, February 2019
This report calls on the Government to produce a long-term, cross-Government strategy for the first 1000 days of life, setting goals to reduce adverse childhood experiences, improve school readiness and reduce infant mortality and child poverty.  The report also calls for the Government’s Healthy Child Programme to be revised, improved and given greater impetus. The Committee recommends that the programme should be expanded to focus on the health of the whole family, begin before conception, deliver a greater continuity of care for children, parents and families during this period and extend visits beyond age 2½ years.
Click here to view the full report.

Training routes into the NHS – Infographic

NHS Employers, February 2019
This infographic shows the additional options that are available to complement traditional training and recruitment routes.This resource can help employers to identify and consider additional routes that can be used to:

  • support workforce challenges
  • recruit from the local community
  • build career pathways

Click here to view the infographic.

Mental Wellbeing Commission report

NHS Staff and Learners’ Mental Wellbeing Commission, February 2019
This report sets out the findings of the NHS Staff and Learners’ Mental Wellbeing Commission.  The Commission aimed to discover and review evidence of good practice where the mental health and wellbeing of staff and learners in NHS organisations has been made an organisational priority. The Commission has examined successful interventions from around the country, to identify what has worked well and what could be adopted widely.
Click here to view the full report.