Commissioning and contracting for integrated care This report describes how CCGs in England are innovating with two broad models – the prime contract and alliance contract. It draws on experiences from five geographical areas, covering different population and disease groups (cancer, end-of-life care, musculoskeletal services, mental health rehabilitation, and older people’s services). It concludes by highlighting four lessons that CCGs, other commissioners and providers should keep in mind as they embark on new models of commissioning and contracting to support integrated care. The King's Fund
Wednesday, 12 November 2014
Out-of-hours GP services in England
Out-of-hours GP services in England The urgent and emergency care system is complex and people struggle to know which is the right service to use.
Too many people are unaware of the different urgent care options – such as out-of-hours GP services, walk-in centres, urgent care centres and A&E departments – and of how to contact them.
This means people may not receive care in the most appropriate setting. As a result of the confusion, too many go to A&E when they do not need to.
About a third of adults in England have either not heard of NHS 111 or have heard of it but do not know what it is for. In addition, a quarter of adults have not heard of out-of-hours GP services. Awareness was lower still among certain groups including younger people and people from black and minority ethnic communities. Public Accounts Select Committee
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Too many people are unaware of the different urgent care options – such as out-of-hours GP services, walk-in centres, urgent care centres and A&E departments – and of how to contact them.
This means people may not receive care in the most appropriate setting. As a result of the confusion, too many go to A&E when they do not need to.
About a third of adults in England have either not heard of NHS 111 or have heard of it but do not know what it is for. In addition, a quarter of adults have not heard of out-of-hours GP services. Awareness was lower still among certain groups including younger people and people from black and minority ethnic communities. Public Accounts Select Committee
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- Millions have no idea where to find a GP at the weekend The Daily Mail
Government response: Response to The People’s NHS campaign about TTIP
Government response: Response to The People’s NHS campaign about TTIP Department of Health’s response to The People’s NHS campaign about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
The government believes that the inclusion of health in the TTIP does not threaten the public nature of the NHS, but provides an opportunity for European businesses, including improving access to the US market for the UK’s world-class pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors.
Decisions about the commissioning of NHS care will remain with local GP-led commissioners, who will continue to act solely in the best interests of patients.
The European Commission has explicitly ruled out public services from the scope of any market liberalisation in the TTIP. The agreement will not require participating EU members to open up their national health systems to private providers. Following the most recent round of negotiations, both EU and US negotiators have confirmed this position.
The rules on investment protection for the TTIP will be negotiated carefully to preserve the right of the government to regulate in the public interest, whilst offering international investors access to justice if they feel they have been discriminated against unfairly. This agreement is not new, and the UK has over 90 similar agreements in place.
The European Commission carried out a public consultation on the investor protection provisions earlier this year. The consultation sought stakeholder views on what modern investment provisions should look like in the TTIP.
The government believes that the inclusion of health in the TTIP does not threaten the public nature of the NHS, but provides an opportunity for European businesses, including improving access to the US market for the UK’s world-class pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors.
Decisions about the commissioning of NHS care will remain with local GP-led commissioners, who will continue to act solely in the best interests of patients.
The European Commission has explicitly ruled out public services from the scope of any market liberalisation in the TTIP. The agreement will not require participating EU members to open up their national health systems to private providers. Following the most recent round of negotiations, both EU and US negotiators have confirmed this position.
The rules on investment protection for the TTIP will be negotiated carefully to preserve the right of the government to regulate in the public interest, whilst offering international investors access to justice if they feel they have been discriminated against unfairly. This agreement is not new, and the UK has over 90 similar agreements in place.
The European Commission carried out a public consultation on the investor protection provisions earlier this year. The consultation sought stakeholder views on what modern investment provisions should look like in the TTIP.
RCN launches new guidance for handling feedback
RCN launches new guidance for handling feedback New guidance to help health care workers deal with feedback, concerns, complaints and compliments. Royal College of Nursing
Patients recalled over virus risk
Patients recalled over virus risk Some 22,000 patients of a Nottinghamshire dentist are to be recalled for tests to see if they have been infected with blood-borne viruses. BBC News
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Lamb: NHS 'needs a cash injection'
Lamb: NHS 'needs a cash injection' Up to £1.5bn of extra funding for the NHS should be found ahead of the general election to prevent a "crash" in services, according to the Liberal Democrat Health Minister Norman Lamb. BBC News
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NHS wi-fi access 'up, but not by enough'
NHS wi-fi access 'up, but not by enough' A rise in the number of healthcare staff who have wireless internet access is "good but not good enough", according to the organiser of a survey on NHS wi-fi. E-Health Insider
Claims cannabis 'rewires the brain' misleading
Claims cannabis 'rewires the brain' misleading "Cannabis use 'shrinks and rewires' the brain," reports The Daily Telegraph, with much of the media reporting similar "brain rewiring" headlines.
The headlines are based on a study that compared the brain structure and connections of cannabis users with those of non-users.
The researchers identified several differences between cannabis users and non-users in a region of the brain called the orbitofrontal cortex.
This is part of the reward network, and is enriched with cannabinoid 1 receptors. These bind THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.
Some of the differences seen by the researchers were associated with how long people had used cannabis or the age they started using the drug.
However, although brain differences were found, it is not clear they were caused by cannabis use. It is possible that brain differences mean it is more likely that certain people use cannabis.
The headlines are based on a study that compared the brain structure and connections of cannabis users with those of non-users.
The researchers identified several differences between cannabis users and non-users in a region of the brain called the orbitofrontal cortex.
This is part of the reward network, and is enriched with cannabinoid 1 receptors. These bind THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.
Some of the differences seen by the researchers were associated with how long people had used cannabis or the age they started using the drug.
However, although brain differences were found, it is not clear they were caused by cannabis use. It is possible that brain differences mean it is more likely that certain people use cannabis.
Ebola: how NHS hospitals are preparing for an outbreak
Ebola: how NHS hospitals are preparing for an outbreak Training exercises for British medical professionals in dealing with Ebola cases are essential for stopping transmission of the virus
Hillingdon hospital is the nearest acute healthcare provider to Heathrow airport and could be on the frontline of treating Ebola.
A twelve-hour flight is all that separates us from the virus and, while an outbreak is unlikely, would you take the risk of being unprepared as a nurse? Continue reading... The Guardian
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Hillingdon hospital is the nearest acute healthcare provider to Heathrow airport and could be on the frontline of treating Ebola.
A twelve-hour flight is all that separates us from the virus and, while an outbreak is unlikely, would you take the risk of being unprepared as a nurse? Continue reading... The Guardian
See also:
Cataract inquiry shows patients suffered potentially serious harm
Cataract inquiry shows patients suffered potentially serious harm Nineteen patients at Mount Stuart hospital in Torquay received antibiotic overdoses during eye surgery contracted out by NHS.
Two patients suffered potentially serious harm from overdoses of an antibiotic into their eyes and four others showed symptoms more than six weeks afterwards, according to an internal investigation into mistakes in cataract operations contracted out by the NHS to a private hospital.
In all, 19 patients received overdoses during surgery at Mount Stuart hospital, Torquay, part of the international private company, Ramsay Health Care on 26 July. The same drug error may have happened at the hospital the previous month, according to a report written in September and published by Ramsay on Tuesday .Continue reading... The Guardian
Two patients suffered potentially serious harm from overdoses of an antibiotic into their eyes and four others showed symptoms more than six weeks afterwards, according to an internal investigation into mistakes in cataract operations contracted out by the NHS to a private hospital.
In all, 19 patients received overdoses during surgery at Mount Stuart hospital, Torquay, part of the international private company, Ramsay Health Care on 26 July. The same drug error may have happened at the hospital the previous month, according to a report written in September and published by Ramsay on Tuesday .Continue reading... The Guardian
New GP conflict of interest fears over financial links to out-of-hours companies
New GP conflict of interest fears over financial links to out-of-hours companies Public spending watchdogs have warned that GPs could award lucrative contracts to companies providing out-of-hours services in which they have a shareholding. The Independent
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