Northampton hospital to invest £600k a year in paying nurses’ training costs
Hospital bosses in Northampton are offering to pay the university fees of students in an attempt to increase the paltry number of nurses available in the town. Northampton Chronicle
Thursday, 21 April 2016
GP services get £2.4bn funding boost
GP services get £2.4bn funding boost
A major five-year investment in general practice in England is announced, with NHS bosses promising to "pull out all the stops" to help GP surgeries "get back on their feet". BBC News
A major five-year investment in general practice in England is announced, with NHS bosses promising to "pull out all the stops" to help GP surgeries "get back on their feet". BBC News
Role of specialist health visitors in perinatal and infant mental health
Role of specialist health visitors in perinatal and infant mental health
All women and their partners should have access within their local health visiting service to a specialist health visitor in perinatal and infant mental health (PIMH). NHS Networks
All women and their partners should have access within their local health visiting service to a specialist health visitor in perinatal and infant mental health (PIMH). NHS Networks
Mental health services: preparations for improving access
Mental health services: preparations for improving access
The Department of Health and NHS England are starting to make progress with the actions needed to implement access and waiting time standards for people with mental health conditions, but much remains to be done, according to the National Audit Office. Today’s report from the spending watchdog is the first in a planned programme of work on mental health.
The Department and NHS England have made a clear commitment to improve mental health services for people who need them. In 2011, the government set an ambition that mental health would be valued as much as physical health. In October 2014, the Department and NHS England set a first set of standards for the access to mental health services that people should expect and how long they should have to wait for treatment.
Improving care for people with mental health problems depends on action by many local organisations working together. However, the full cost of implementing the new access and waiting time standards and meeting longer term ambitions for better services is not well understood. The Department estimated that achieving the commitments made in the first three areas – improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT), early intervention in psychosis and liaison psychiatry services – could be £160 million a year more than the estimated £663 million that clinical commissioning groups spent on these services in 2014-15. Subsequent indicative analysis suggests that the cost of improving access further could be substantially higher, although there is considerable uncertainty around these estimates.
The Department and NHS England have made available £120 million of additional funding over the two years 2014-15 and 2015-16. However, most of the cost of implementing the new access and waiting time standards will be met from clinical commissioning groups’ existing budgets, at a time when the NHS is under increasing financial pressure.
Today’s report finds that full information does not exist to measure how far the NHS is from meeting the access and waiting time standards, but it is clear that meeting the standards will be a very significant challenge. Nationally, the access and waiting times for IAPT are already being met but performance varies substantially across different areas. A survey of acute hospitals in July 2015 indicated that 7% had the level of service NHS England considers will be beneficial to patients – at least a core liaison psychiatry service operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Complete information is not yet available to measure performance for early intervention in psychosis.
The Department and NHS England are making progress, particularly in setting priorities and national leadership, but significant risks to implementing the access and waiting times programme remain. The strongest areas are the clear objectives and strong leadership, and a governance framework is being developed. The greatest challenges for the future are collecting data to show whether the standards are being met, building the mental health workforce and reinforcing incentives for providers.
National Audit Office
The Department of Health and NHS England are starting to make progress with the actions needed to implement access and waiting time standards for people with mental health conditions, but much remains to be done, according to the National Audit Office. Today’s report from the spending watchdog is the first in a planned programme of work on mental health.
The Department and NHS England have made a clear commitment to improve mental health services for people who need them. In 2011, the government set an ambition that mental health would be valued as much as physical health. In October 2014, the Department and NHS England set a first set of standards for the access to mental health services that people should expect and how long they should have to wait for treatment.
Improving care for people with mental health problems depends on action by many local organisations working together. However, the full cost of implementing the new access and waiting time standards and meeting longer term ambitions for better services is not well understood. The Department estimated that achieving the commitments made in the first three areas – improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT), early intervention in psychosis and liaison psychiatry services – could be £160 million a year more than the estimated £663 million that clinical commissioning groups spent on these services in 2014-15. Subsequent indicative analysis suggests that the cost of improving access further could be substantially higher, although there is considerable uncertainty around these estimates.
The Department and NHS England have made available £120 million of additional funding over the two years 2014-15 and 2015-16. However, most of the cost of implementing the new access and waiting time standards will be met from clinical commissioning groups’ existing budgets, at a time when the NHS is under increasing financial pressure.
Today’s report finds that full information does not exist to measure how far the NHS is from meeting the access and waiting time standards, but it is clear that meeting the standards will be a very significant challenge. Nationally, the access and waiting times for IAPT are already being met but performance varies substantially across different areas. A survey of acute hospitals in July 2015 indicated that 7% had the level of service NHS England considers will be beneficial to patients – at least a core liaison psychiatry service operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Complete information is not yet available to measure performance for early intervention in psychosis.
The Department and NHS England are making progress, particularly in setting priorities and national leadership, but significant risks to implementing the access and waiting times programme remain. The strongest areas are the clear objectives and strong leadership, and a governance framework is being developed. The greatest challenges for the future are collecting data to show whether the standards are being met, building the mental health workforce and reinforcing incentives for providers.
National Audit Office
Integrated care to address the physical health needs of people with severe mental illness: a rapid review
Integrated care to address the physical health needs of people with severe mental illness: a rapid review
People with mental health conditions have a lower life expectancy and poorer physical health outcomes than the general population. Evidence suggests that this discrepancy is driven by a combination of clinical risk factors, socioeconomic factors and health system factors. The objective of this research was to explore current service provision and map the recent evidence on models of integrated care addressing the physical health needs of people with severe mental illness primarily within the mental health service setting.
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
Full report
Summary report
NIHR - publications
People with mental health conditions have a lower life expectancy and poorer physical health outcomes than the general population. Evidence suggests that this discrepancy is driven by a combination of clinical risk factors, socioeconomic factors and health system factors. The objective of this research was to explore current service provision and map the recent evidence on models of integrated care addressing the physical health needs of people with severe mental illness primarily within the mental health service setting.
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
Full report
Summary report
NIHR - publications
News story: HSCIC changing its name to NHS Digital
News story: HSCIC changing its name to NHS Digital
From July 2016, the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) will change its name to NHS Digital, building on the role it plays in directly supporting the NHS and social care services. Noel Gordon has been appointed as the new Chair for NHS Digital by the Secretary of State.
HSCIC, now NHS Digital, is the national provider of information, data and IT systems for commissioners, analysts and clinicians in health and social care.
Its work includes:
publishing more than 260 statistical publications per year
providing a range of specialist data services
managing informatics projects and programmes, and developing and assuring national systems against appropriate contractual, clinical safety and information standards
The new name of ‘NHS Digital: Information and technology for better health and care’ should help to build public recognition, confidence and trust. Speaking at the National Information Board’s Leadership Summit, George Freeman, Minister for Life Sciences, explained that NHS Digital will continue to produce high quality information, IT systems and services for health and social care. As well as showing how technological development and effective use of information can transform the quality of care a patient receives.
George Freeman said:
Healthcare in the 21st century is going digital with improved treatment and care, and with huge benefits for patient safety. The newly named NHS Digital will provide important information and IT services to ensure better care for patients.
This is an exciting time for NHS leadership in medical technology and NHS Digital will help to develop the NHS’s ability to deliver modern services. I’m pleased that Noel Gordon has agreed to lead NHS Digital as the organisation’s new chairman.
Noel Gordon is currently the Non-executive Director and Chair of the Specialised Services Commissioning Committee at NHS England. Formerly an economist, Mr Gordon has spent most of his career in consultancy, including 16 years at Accenture where he was global managing director of the Banking Industry Practice.
He has experience of innovating and transforming industries, and of using big data, analytics, mobile and digital technologies.
From July 2016, the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) will change its name to NHS Digital, building on the role it plays in directly supporting the NHS and social care services. Noel Gordon has been appointed as the new Chair for NHS Digital by the Secretary of State.
HSCIC, now NHS Digital, is the national provider of information, data and IT systems for commissioners, analysts and clinicians in health and social care.
Its work includes:
publishing more than 260 statistical publications per year
providing a range of specialist data services
managing informatics projects and programmes, and developing and assuring national systems against appropriate contractual, clinical safety and information standards
The new name of ‘NHS Digital: Information and technology for better health and care’ should help to build public recognition, confidence and trust. Speaking at the National Information Board’s Leadership Summit, George Freeman, Minister for Life Sciences, explained that NHS Digital will continue to produce high quality information, IT systems and services for health and social care. As well as showing how technological development and effective use of information can transform the quality of care a patient receives.
George Freeman said:
Healthcare in the 21st century is going digital with improved treatment and care, and with huge benefits for patient safety. The newly named NHS Digital will provide important information and IT services to ensure better care for patients.
This is an exciting time for NHS leadership in medical technology and NHS Digital will help to develop the NHS’s ability to deliver modern services. I’m pleased that Noel Gordon has agreed to lead NHS Digital as the organisation’s new chairman.
Noel Gordon is currently the Non-executive Director and Chair of the Specialised Services Commissioning Committee at NHS England. Formerly an economist, Mr Gordon has spent most of his career in consultancy, including 16 years at Accenture where he was global managing director of the Banking Industry Practice.
He has experience of innovating and transforming industries, and of using big data, analytics, mobile and digital technologies.
Department o fHealth
Chief Executive of largest integrated community and mental health trust appointed as new NHS England National Mental Health Director
Chief Executive of largest integrated community and mental health trust appointed as new NHS England National Mental Health Director
The Chief Executive of Central and North West London NHS FT (CNWL), Claire Murdoch, has been appointed by Simon Stevens as the new NHS National Mental Health Director. NHS Commissioning
The Chief Executive of Central and North West London NHS FT (CNWL), Claire Murdoch, has been appointed by Simon Stevens as the new NHS National Mental Health Director. NHS Commissioning
UK dementia cases fell 20% between 1989 and 2011
UK dementia cases fell 20% between 1989 and 2011
But decline almost entirely among men; women still seem to be at higher risk, study shows. OnMedica
But decline almost entirely among men; women still seem to be at higher risk, study shows. OnMedica
Mental health goals may not be met, audit office warns
Mental health goals may not be met, audit office warns
Waiting-time targets were scheduled to start in April, but NAO report says officials do not yet have a grip on how much the policy will cost
A government pledge to bring mental health services up to the standards of those for physical ailments will struggle to be met, the government’s official spending watchdog has concluded.
The National Audit Office has examined the Department of Health’s strategy for bringing a “parity of esteem” to ensure that patients do not have to wait longer for mental health therapies. New waiting time targets for those seeking help with mental illnesses were supposed to be introduced at the start of this month.
Guardian
Continue reading...
Waiting-time targets were scheduled to start in April, but NAO report says officials do not yet have a grip on how much the policy will cost
A government pledge to bring mental health services up to the standards of those for physical ailments will struggle to be met, the government’s official spending watchdog has concluded.
The National Audit Office has examined the Department of Health’s strategy for bringing a “parity of esteem” to ensure that patients do not have to wait longer for mental health therapies. New waiting time targets for those seeking help with mental illnesses were supposed to be introduced at the start of this month.
Guardian
Continue reading...
Commissioning better cancer services
Commissioning better cancer services
NHS England has published guidance to support commissioners and strategic clinical networks to ensure every person affected by cancer will have access to a recovery package and follow-up pathways by 2020, as set out in the cancer strategy. NHS Networks
NHS England has published guidance to support commissioners and strategic clinical networks to ensure every person affected by cancer will have access to a recovery package and follow-up pathways by 2020, as set out in the cancer strategy. NHS Networks
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