What can the NHS learn from learning health systems? Drawing on a seminar held at the Nuffield Trust and on evidence and experience from the UK and internationally, this briefing identifies opportunities for local organisations and systems to make better use of health data, and recommends ways that national policy could promote the collaboration and greater use of analytics which underpin the 'learning health system' concept. We focus on lessons for the NHS – but many of the same actions could be taken across the wider health and care system.
Friday, 17 May 2019
The NHS misses its new target for planned elective care
The NHS misses its new target for planned elective care I no longer understand the strategy for elective care in England.
For most of the past 20 years the approach was fairly straightforward. The priority was to improve access to planned elective treatments like routine hip and knee surgery. A new target was created to treat the majority of patients within 18 weeks of referral to place greater focus on this goal. And the target mattered: NHS hospitals would be fined if patients waited too long for care, and the term ‘waiting list initiatives’ entered the NHS lexicon as hospitals paid staff a premium to provide extra clinics or operating sessions over evenings and weekends to speed up access to treatment. The King's Fund
For most of the past 20 years the approach was fairly straightforward. The priority was to improve access to planned elective treatments like routine hip and knee surgery. A new target was created to treat the majority of patients within 18 weeks of referral to place greater focus on this goal. And the target mattered: NHS hospitals would be fined if patients waited too long for care, and the term ‘waiting list initiatives’ entered the NHS lexicon as hospitals paid staff a premium to provide extra clinics or operating sessions over evenings and weekends to speed up access to treatment. The King's Fund
Nearly 7 in 10 LGBT people say they have been sexually harassed at work
Nearly 7 in 10 LGBT people say they have been sexually harassed at work Nearly 7 in 10 (68%) lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people report being sexually harassed at work, according to new research published by the TUC on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia today (Friday).
The report – the first major study into LGBT sexual harassment at work in Great Britain – found that:
The report – the first major study into LGBT sexual harassment at work in Great Britain – found that:
- More than 2 in 5 (42%) LGBT people who responded to the survey said colleagues made unwelcome comments or asked unwelcome questions about their sex life.
- More than a quarter (27%) reported receiving unwelcome verbal sexual advances.
- Two-thirds (66%) said they did not tell their employer about the harassment, and quarter of those said they didn’t report because they were afraid of being ‘outed’ at work.
National survey of local innovation and research needs of the NHS
National survey of local innovation and research needs of the NHS This report includes analysis of the innovation and research needs at local level across all Academic Health Science Networks. There were some differences in regional priorities but common themes emerged which reflected wider challenges facing the NHS and align with the priorities of the NHS Long Term Plan. These include: a need for innovation and research addressing workforce challenges; delivery of mental health services and providing care for patients with mental health needs, particularly in children and young people; integrating services to provide effective care for patients with complex needs – including multimorbidity and frailty; and use of digital and artificial intelligence technology. Oxford Academic Health Science Network
Urgent action needed to address growing opioid crisis
Urgent action needed to address growing opioid crisis Governments should treat the opioid epidemic as a public health crisis and improve treatment, care and support for people misusing opioids. Overdose deaths continue to rise, fuelled by an increase in prescription and over-prescription of opioids for pain management and the illicit drugs trade, according to a new OECD report.
Addressing Problematic Opioid Use in OECD Countries examines how, over the past few years, the crisis has devastated families and communities, especially in North America. It documents that deaths are also rising sharply in Sweden, Norway, Ireland, and England and Wales.
Between 2011 and 2016, in the 25 OECD countries with available data, opioid-related deaths increased by more than 20%. In Canada, for example, there were more than ten thousand opioid-related deaths between January 2016 and September 2018, with rates increasing from 8.4 per 100,000 people to 11.8 over this period. Opioid abuse has also put a growing burden on health services through hospitalisation and emergency room visits. OECD
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Addressing Problematic Opioid Use in OECD Countries examines how, over the past few years, the crisis has devastated families and communities, especially in North America. It documents that deaths are also rising sharply in Sweden, Norway, Ireland, and England and Wales.
Between 2011 and 2016, in the 25 OECD countries with available data, opioid-related deaths increased by more than 20%. In Canada, for example, there were more than ten thousand opioid-related deaths between January 2016 and September 2018, with rates increasing from 8.4 per 100,000 people to 11.8 over this period. Opioid abuse has also put a growing burden on health services through hospitalisation and emergency room visits. OECD
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Bowel cancer rates rising 'among young adults'
Bowel cancer rates rising 'among young adults' More young people under 50 are being diagnosed with bowel cancer, two studies of the disease in European and high-income countries have found.
Although total numbers of cases in young people remain low, the studies highlighted a sharp rise in rates in 20 to 29-year-olds.
Researchers are not clear why this is happening, but say obesity and poor diet could be factors.
Experts urged doctors not to ignore symptoms in young people. BBC News
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Although total numbers of cases in young people remain low, the studies highlighted a sharp rise in rates in 20 to 29-year-olds.
Researchers are not clear why this is happening, but say obesity and poor diet could be factors.
Experts urged doctors not to ignore symptoms in young people. BBC News
See also:
- Increasing incidence of colorectal cancer in young adults in Europe over the last 25 years (abstract) Gut
- Changes in colorectal cancer incidence in seven high-income countries: a population-based study (abstract) Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Bowel cancer is on the rise in the UK The Daily Mail
- Calls for bowel cancer screening to be introduced earlier amid rise in cases in under 50s The Daily Telegraph
- Bowel cancer rise among UK under-50s prompts screening call The Guardian
Cancer: Breakthrough treatments to target drug resistance
Cancer: Breakthrough treatments to target drug resistance The world's first drugs designed to stop cancer cells becoming resistant to treatment could be available within the next decade, scientists have said.
A £75m investment to develop the drugs has been announced by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR).
Chief executive Prof Paul Workman said cancer's ability to adapt to drugs is the biggest challenge in treatment.
The new drugs could make cancer a "manageable" disease in the long term and "more often curable", he said. BBC News
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A £75m investment to develop the drugs has been announced by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR).
Chief executive Prof Paul Workman said cancer's ability to adapt to drugs is the biggest challenge in treatment.
The new drugs could make cancer a "manageable" disease in the long term and "more often curable", he said. BBC News
See also:
- New dawn in cancer war: Scientists to develop revolutionary drugs to stop resistant tumours The Daily Mail
- Scientists hope to trick cancer cells to prevent them becoming drug-resistant The Independent
£10m investment in junior doctors’ rest areas
£10m investment in junior doctors’ rest areas Doctors’ leaders have welcomed the announcement that the government is investing £10m across England in providing better rest facilities for doctors, which they said would make doctors safer – for patients as well as themselves. OnMedica
Big tobacco secretly bankrolling anti-NHS think tank whose bosses donate thousands to Tory leadership contenders, an investigation reveals
Big tobacco secretly bankrolling anti-NHS think tank whose bosses donate thousands to Tory leadership contenders, an investigation reveals A secretive think tank which called for the NHS to be scrapped while its heads pour millions into the Conservative Party – and its MPs’ – coffers is being funded by big tobacco, an investigation has found.
British American Tobacco is one of the groups funding the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a free market think tank which is notoriously close-lipped about its donors.
The IEA has been an outspoken critic of public health measures for tackling smoking, obesity and harmful drinking, and past funders include organisations affiliated with gambling, alcohol, sugar and soft drinks industries. The Independent
British American Tobacco is one of the groups funding the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a free market think tank which is notoriously close-lipped about its donors.
The IEA has been an outspoken critic of public health measures for tackling smoking, obesity and harmful drinking, and past funders include organisations affiliated with gambling, alcohol, sugar and soft drinks industries. The Independent
See also:
- Big tobacco, the new politics, and the threat to public health (open access) The BMJ
- Market forces are the best way to successfully integrate health and social care, says new IEA report Institute of Economic Affairs
- Integrating health and social care: state or market? Institute of Economic Affairs
- Public health ‘under assault’ by free-market idealogues OnMedica
Britons get drunk more often than 35 other nations, survey finds
Britons get drunk more often than 35 other nations, survey finds Meanwhile, cocaine use among people in England tops the same global list
Drinkers in the UK get drunk more than any other nation in the world, findings from a global survey suggest.
Britons reported getting drunk an average of 51.1 times in a 12-month period – almost once a week – the report featuring 36 countries found. The Guardian
Drinkers in the UK get drunk more than any other nation in the world, findings from a global survey suggest.
Britons reported getting drunk an average of 51.1 times in a 12-month period – almost once a week – the report featuring 36 countries found. The Guardian
UK should consider 'no jab, no school' policy, Italian study says
UK should consider 'no jab, no school' policy, Italian study says British experts dissent, saying compulsion ‘may work in some countries but it is not for us’
The UK should consider a “no jab, no school” policy for all small children, researchers have said after finding that current immunisation rates will not keep measles outbreaks at bay.
The research comes from Italy, which brought in mandatory vaccination before primary school in 2017 because of low immunisation rates and measles outbreaks. France did the same in 2018. Populist politicians have opposed mandatory vaccination, saying parents should have freedom to choose. The Guardian
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The UK should consider a “no jab, no school” policy for all small children, researchers have said after finding that current immunisation rates will not keep measles outbreaks at bay.
The research comes from Italy, which brought in mandatory vaccination before primary school in 2017 because of low immunisation rates and measles outbreaks. France did the same in 2018. Populist politicians have opposed mandatory vaccination, saying parents should have freedom to choose. The Guardian
See also:
- The introduction of ‘No jab, No school’ policy and the refinement of measles immunisation strategies in high-income countries (open access) BMC Medicine
- Measles: Experts call for compulsory vaccination BBC News
- Measles vaccine must be compulsory for children before they start school, experts warn The Independent
- Should we have compulsory measles vaccination at school entry? OnMedica
NHS IT blunder leaves 'a million' at risk of lethal meningitis strain
NHS IT blunder leaves 'a million' at risk of lethal meningitis strain More than a million people could be at risk from a deadly strain of meningitis due to an NHS IT blunder, it has emerged.
A system designed to alert GPs when a patient should be invited for a vaccination was not switched on for years due to fears of “alert fatigue”. The Daily Telegraph
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A system designed to alert GPs when a patient should be invited for a vaccination was not switched on for years due to fears of “alert fatigue”. The Daily Telegraph
See also:
- GP alert for MenACWY vaccine is finally activated Meningitis Research Foundation
UK urged to show leadership in fight against three big infectious killers
UK urged to show leadership in fight against three big infectious killers Health secretary Matt Hancock is being urged to ensure the fight against the world's three biggest infectious disease killers remains a global focus in a meeting with international counterparts this week.
Mr Hancock is attending this week's G7 meeting of health ministers in Paris where the elimination of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis will be one of just three items on the agenda. The Daily Telegraph
Mr Hancock is attending this week's G7 meeting of health ministers in Paris where the elimination of AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis will be one of just three items on the agenda. The Daily Telegraph
The 11 NHS trusts with excess deaths across England
The 11 NHS trusts with excess deaths across England NHS Digital, which released the report, collected figures from all 130 hospital trusts between January and December last year.
Data showed around 3,600 more patients died than predicted after spending time in hospitals ran by the 11 trusts.
The NHS argues the statistics are only a 'smoke alarm'. However, four of the trusts were also named and shamed last year.
One of them - Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - has been on the worst offending list every year since 2011. The Daily Mail
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Data showed around 3,600 more patients died than predicted after spending time in hospitals ran by the 11 trusts.
The NHS argues the statistics are only a 'smoke alarm'. However, four of the trusts were also named and shamed last year.
One of them - Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - has been on the worst offending list every year since 2011. The Daily Mail
See also:
One in 20 NHS doctors are dependent on alcohol, survey finds
One in 20 NHS doctors are dependent on alcohol, survey finds Thousands of doctors are turning to alcohol amid the unprecedented pressure that is buckling the NHS, research suggests.
Scientists who quizzed hundreds of consultants found around one in 20, or five per cent, would be classified as dependent on alcohol.
Almost one in ten, or eight per cent, displayed clear signs of a binge-eating disorder - a common way to combat emotional distress.
The study comes amid an NHS crisis, with a record 4.23 million-long waiting list for routine hospital treatment spiral to record levels. The Daily Mail
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Scientists who quizzed hundreds of consultants found around one in 20, or five per cent, would be classified as dependent on alcohol.
Almost one in ten, or eight per cent, displayed clear signs of a binge-eating disorder - a common way to combat emotional distress.
The study comes amid an NHS crisis, with a record 4.23 million-long waiting list for routine hospital treatment spiral to record levels. The Daily Mail
See also:
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