Thursday 19 March 2015

Integrated care: the end of the hospital as we know it?

Integrated care: the end of the hospital as we know it? Hospitals are often seen as an impediment to integrated care. The concern frequently voiced is that their dominant role in the health system makes it harder for commissioners to shift resources into the community and to develop more co-ordinated services that cross organisational boundaries.

It is certainly true that an over-reliance on hospital-based care, and the political reluctance to challenge this, has long been a barrier to necessary change in health systems across the world. Jean Rebert, one of the principal architects of the PRISMA integrated care system in Quebec, Canada, has made this case forcefully. Speaking at the World Congress on Integrated Care in Sydney last year, he said that in his experience the greatest obstacle to integrated care is the political attractiveness of prioritising investment in hospitals over other forms of care.

Changes in CAMHS: parity or warm words?

Changes in CAMHS: parity or warm words? Following the budget announcement and a new report from a major government taskforce, is England now on the right track to achieve mental health services on a par with their physical health counterparts? The Health Foundation

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) This suite of 12 resources includes short films, reports, at a glance summaries and tools. Some of the resources aim to raise service users’ and mental health staffs’ awareness and understanding of the IMHA role, and address equality of access. Others help advocacy providers, commissioners and mental health trusts to improve access to IMHA, to understand what a good service looks like, and how outcomes can be measured. Social Care Institute of Excellence

Equal measures: equality information report for 2014

Equal measures: equality information report for 2014 This report summarises what the Care Quality Commission have learned about equality and diversity, both across health and social care and internally last year. It finds that while seeing some improvements, there is still too much variation in people’s access, experience and outcomes in many health and social care services. For example, the fact that more ethnic groups seem to use certain hospital services more than other groups suggests that access could be an issue. It also finds that people with dementia have poorer outcomes in hospitals than those without dementia going into hospital for the same health conditions; and, that the needs of people with visual impairment and hearing loss within care homes are sometimes overlooked.

Kelsey pushes for free NHS wi-fi

Kelsey pushes for free NHS wi-fi The NHS should install free wireless internet across its entire estate to act "as an instrument of social transformation", NHS England's Tim Kelsey says. E-Health Insider

GPs to lead on improving children’s access to mental health

GPs to lead on improving children’s access to mental health Call for greater GP and CCG involvement in commissioning young people’s mental health. OnMedica

The next parliament needs to stabilise and transform the NHS

The next parliament needs to stabilise and transform the NHS In the lead-up to the general election, cumulative stress is starting to show and health service leaders face tough decisions Continue reading... The Guardian

Benefit cuts for the obese could force people into weight-loss surgery

Benefit cuts for the obese could force people into weight-loss surgery The Prime Minister’s proposal to cut benefits for obese people who refuse treatment could force hundreds to choose between weight loss surgery or losing their welfare payments, leading doctors have said. The Independent

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FGM: New NHS rules mean women with genital piercings will be recorded as suffering female genital mutilation

FGM: New NHS rules mean women with genital piercings will be recorded as suffering female genital mutilation Women who have genital piercings will be recorded as having suffered female genital mutilation (FGM) under new NHS rules due to come into force next month. The Independent

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