Tag: house of commons

Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

COVID-19 vaccines for autumn 2022: JCVI advice, 15 August 2022.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC); 2022.
(Statement setting out the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on COVID-19 vaccines for autumn 2022.)

NHS prescription charges in England.
House of Commons Library; 2022.
(The cost of an NHS prescription, who is entitled to free prescriptions and how to get help with prescription costs.)

Homeless hostel residents and staff struggle to access health and social care services.
The Mental Elf; 2022.
(In her debut blog, Ava Phillips summarises a paper that finds both people living in homeless hostels, and staff working there, feel marginalised and struggle to access the health and social care they need.)

As waiting lists grow for anxiety disorders, should we be turning to digital interventions?
The Mental Elf; 2022.
(Theo Kyriacou and Andie Ashdown explore a recent systematic review that brings together two decades of research, which suggests that digital health interventions for anxiety disorders may be a more effective alternative to inactive controls, such as waiting-list groups.)

No place for cheap alcohol: the potential value of minimum pricing for protecting lives.
World Health Organization (WHO); 2022.
(Pricing policies and taxation are among the most effective measures that policy-makers can use to address these harms, but they remain underutilized across the Region. This report reviews the status of implementation of minimum pricing globally, provides an overview of the most recent evidence behind the policy, addresses its main strengths and limitations and offers practical considerations for countries.)

NHS Key Statistics: England

June 2022

Source: House of Commons Library; 2022.

A summary of NHS demand, performance, backlogs, and capacity of services in England. It covers A&E statistics, waiting lists and pressures, ambulance data, delayed discharges, staffing levels including doctors and nurses, and more.

Take a look here: NHS Key Statistics: England, June 2022 – House of Commons Library (parliament.uk)

Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); 2021.

(This guideline covers diagnosing, monitoring and managing asthma in adults, young people and children. It aims to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, help people to control their asthma and reduce the risk of asthma attacks. It does not cover managing severe asthma or acute asthma attacks. In March 2021, we highlighted the importance of including advice in the personalised action plan on minimising indoor air pollution and reducing exposure to outdoor air pollution.)

Support for people with a learning disability.
House of Commons Library; 2021.

(A description of recent changes to policy and services for people with a learning disability in England. Briefing paper.)

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: a year like no other.
Office for National Statistics (ONS); 2021.

(Analysis of data from a variety of sources on the way life, society and the economy changed during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and how the period compares with other years.)

Coronavirus and the different effects on men and women in the UK: March 2020 to February 2021.
Office for National Statistics (ONS); 2021.

(Brings together different sources to examine how men and women have been affected differently throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Includes information on physical health, mental health, paid work, unpaid work, home-schooling, and loneliness.)

Every action counts.
NHS England; 2021.

(Persuading everyone – staff, patients and visitors – to follow good practice in COVID-19 infection prevention and control is key to keeping healthcare settings as safe as possible. Every Action Counts draws on behavioural expertise to support local NHS organisations with resources on awareness, leadership, morale and wellbeing, training, and operational interventions.)

Global report on Ageism World Health Organisation (WHO); 18th March 2021

(The Global report on ageism outlines a framework for action to reduce ageism including specific recommendations for different actors (e.g. government, UN agencies, civil society organizations, private sector). It brings together the best available evidence on the nature and magnitude of ageism, its determinants and its impact. It outlines what strategies work to prevent and counter ageism, identifies gaps and proposes future lines of research to improve our understanding of ageism.)

Inclusive and sustainable economies: leaving no-one behind Public Health England (PHE); 25th March 2021

(A report and data catalogue from PHE supporting place-based action to reduce health inequalities and build back better. It addresses the social, economic and environmental determinants of health and wellbeing to help achieve healthy people, thriving communities and increased prosperity.)

Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

We can’t prevent childhood obesity by education alone: lessons from the evidence base.
University of Bristol; 2021.

(This study examined the evidence included in the most recent Cochrane Review on childhood obesity prevention. The results show that most of the current evidence targets individual lifestyle behaviours (diet and physical activity) through education. This could influence the range of evidence that policymakers see, with consequences for the focus of policies they develop. A broader evidence base is needed on which to base future decisions about childhood obesity prevention. Policy briefing.)

Loneliness: a reading list.
House of Commons Library; 2021.

(Links to various publications considering the causes and impact of loneliness, as well as possible interventions to deal with the issue in society. A companion to the Library’s Tackling loneliness (CBP 8514) briefing, which sets out in greater detail the incidence and impact of loneliness and strategies adopted to tackle it across the UK. Research briefing.)

Consultation outcome: Proposed changes to how smoking-attributable risk is calculated.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.

(Response to consultation on proposed changes to the calculation of smoking attributable mortality and hospital admissions. There was a positive response to updating the relative risks used for the calculation of smoking-related harm and all options provided through responses have been explored.)

A Snapshot of European Children’s Eating Habits: Results from the Fourth Round of the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI).
World Health Organization (WHO); 2021.

(Overall, the WHO findings from this study highlight that action is urgently needed to promote healthy eating habits among children in all the countries of the European Region, especially to increase daily consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.)

Youth Sport Trust impact report.
Youth Sport Trust; 2021.

(In this report we share data, insights and stories from some of the young people whose wellbeing we have been able to support. Working together with schools and valued partners we have improved physical and mental health, nurtured the development of character and leadership, and fostered inclusion and empathy to bring down barriers and build connections.)

Understanding and addressing inequalities in physical activity: evidence-based guidance for commissioners Public Health England (PHE); 2021

(This guidance can be used by practitioners and commissioners at a local level to begin tackling inequalities in physical activity across and within protected characteristic groups. It presents the findings of a review, analysis and research aimed at understanding the enablers, barriers and opportunities for increasing physical activity across inequality groups.)

Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

National Child Measurement Programme: childhood obesity.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.

(Research by University College London (UCL) shares learning from local authorities that have a downward trend in childhood obesity, including practice examples. 15 February 2021: Added PHE Centres documents: North of England, Midlands, South of England, East of England and London.)

COVID-19 vaccination: British Sign Language resources.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.

(British Sign Language (BSL) videos on COVID-19 vaccination.)

County lines exploitation: applying All Our Health.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.

(Guidance to help health professionals prevent child exploitation and protect vulnerable children that have been manipulated and coerced into crime.)

Changes over 15 years in the contribution of adiposity and smoking to deaths in England and Scotland.
BMC Public Health; 2021.

(Adiposity now accounts for more deaths in England and Scotland than smoking among people in middle- and old-age. National strategies to address adiposity should be a public health priority.)

Support for domestic abuse victims.
House of Commons Library; 2021.

(This briefing outlines support for victims of domestic violence and abuse. It considers social services, housing, social security benefits, health services and preventive actions in education settings.)

Delivering Core NHS Services

Government response to the Committee’s second report of session 2019–21

Source: The King’s Fund; Health Management and Policy Alert

This report finds that the Covid-19 response has greatly accelerated the use of digital technology, has mainstreamed remote consultations, and similar effects are being seen for remote monitoring. There has been greater flexibility and resilience in the workforce, as well as improved decision-making and access to information through the better use of data and simplified information governance guidance. It concludes that these changes should be embedded and extended to support the health and care system’s recovery from the pandemic and ongoing resilience.

Mental Health

Supporting the mental health of children and young people

Keep up to date with current awareness:

Children and young people’s mental health – policy, CAMHS services, funding and education.
House of Commons Library; 2020.
(Research briefing outlining children and young people’s mental health policy.)

Child and adolescent mental health during COVID-19
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST); 2020.
(Charities and academics have expressed concerns that children’s mental health is disproportionately affected by the intervention measures used during the pandemic. Child and adolescent mental health may be compromised by factors such as strained family relationships, academic stress and reduced social contact with friends. Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) have been reduced during the pandemic. They are likely to be under strain to meet increased demand.)

Interventions to support children and young people who self-harm
Carried out by Frankie Marcelline from Brighton and Sussex on 3/11/2020
https://www.knowledgeshare.nhs.uk/index.php?PageID=literature_search_request_download&RequestID=25593
(This evidence search report looks for publications on interventions to support children and young people (age 4-18) who self-harm, including school-based preventative approaches.)

House of Commons Library

Child protection: duties to report concerns (England)

This briefing paper sets out the current requirements on individuals and organisations regarding the reporting of known or suspected child abuse or neglect. It also provides information on the debate around whether a mandatory duty to report abuse or neglect should be introduced in England, and outlines the operation of such mandatory duties in other countries.

Read the briefing paper here