Time and positive attitudes are needed for patient participation

Reviewers from Denmark examined ways to increase patient participation in nursing care. Four bibliographic databases were searched. All of the studies suggested that patient participation was useful and feasible. The main challenge identified was that patient expectations about the extent and quality of participation may be ‘unrealistic’, leading to patient dissatisfaction. Challenges could be addressed by devoting more time to engage with patients and by ensuring that professionals have a positive attitude towards engagement.

Reference:

Angel S, Frederiksen KN. Challenges in achieving patient participation: A review of how patient participation is addressed in empirical studies. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2015 May

Running a workshop to discuss patient safety culture at a general practice improved the reporting of safety incidents.

Findings:Researchers from the Netherlands examined the effect of two patient safety culture interventions on incident reporting. Thirty general practices were randomly assigned to receive 1) a patient safety culture survey, 2) the survey plus a workshop or 3) no intervention. The number of reported incidents was measured using a survey at baseline and after one year. After adjusting for baseline incidents and practice size, practices that only completed the survey reported five times more incidents than the control group. Practices that also took part in a workshop reported 42 times more incidents than the control group. There were no differences between groups in staff perceptions of patient safety culture.

Reference:

Verbakel NJ, Langelaan M, Verheij TJ, Wagner C, Zwart DL. Effects of patient safety culture interventions on incident reporting in general practice: a cluster randomised trial. British Journal of General Practice. 2015 May;65(634):e319-e329

Occupational therapy sessions support self-management

Researchers from Ireland examined an occupational therapy-led self-management support programme aiming to help address the challenges of living with multiple long-term conditions in primary care. Fifty people were randomly assigned to take part in the six-week programme or usual care. The programme was associated with a significant improvement in how often people took part in activities, perceptions of activity performance, satisfaction, self-efficacy, independence in daily activities, quality of life and goal achievement. There were differences from the control group in terms of anxiety, depression, self-management scores or healthcare use.

Reference:

Garvey J, Connolly D, Boland F, Smith SM. OPTIMAL, an occupational therapy led self-management support programme for people with multimorbidity in primary care: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Family Practice. 2015 May;16(1):59-59.

Safe staffing programme

NHS England has asked NICE not to begin new activity in its safe staffing programme. NHS England will now take forward the issue of staffing work as part of a wider programme of service improvement. It is looking at alternative approaches to helping NHS providers to achieve the right levels and mix of staff. NICE has produced guidance on safe staffing in two settings: adult acute wards and maternity. They were part of a programme to develop evidence-based guidelines on safe staffing for the NHS which began in 2013. Two evidence reviews currently in progress will be completed and will help inform future work on safe staffing. The existing guidance on adult acute wards and maternity settings will remain in place.

Additional link: RCN press release

Five Year Forward View: the Success Regime

Monitor has published Five Year Forward View – The Success Regime: A whole systems intervention. This document provides detail of the ‘Success Regime’ which is aimed at providing increased support and direction to the most challenged systems in order to secure improvement in three main areas: short-term improvement against agreed quality, performance or financial metrics; medium and longer-term transformation, including the application of new care models where applicable; and developing leadership capacity and capability across the health system.

Developing leadership

NHS Commissioners and the Royal College of Physicians have published Collaboration in Clinical Leadership.  This report highlights how collaborative working between CCG leaders and secondary care doctors can provide a real benefit to the health service provision of local people. It uses case studies to illustrate how secondary care doctors have contributed to CCGs during the least 2 years.

 

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards resources

The Social Care Institute for Excellence has published new resources covering the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The resources look at how sometimes there is a case for depriving people of their liberty; for instance, when someone lacks the capacity to consent to their care and treatment.  The case for the decision is taken in order to keep them and others safe from harm. The new resources, two films and an updated briefing, are intended to be used by care home managers, registered managers, care providers, hospital managers, social workers, best interest assessors and independent mental capacity advocates, along with people with care and support needs and their families.

Developing leadership

The Kings Fund has published Talent management:  developing leadership not just leaders. This guide aims to enable board members and senior leaders to challenge their current thinking on managing talent.   It looks at the key aspects of holistic talent management and succession planning approach.  It focuses on the three core pillars of implementing a talent management strategy – recruitment, development, retention and deployment.

Health and social care priorities for the Government: 2015–2020

The Nuffield Trust has published Health and social care priorities for the Government: 2015–2020. The briefing outlines ten key health and social care priorities for the new Government which the trust believes the new government should focus upon. The briefing draws on our published and forthcoming research, expert opinion and insights from key figures in the health and social care system.

Improving GP services: commissioners and patient choice

Monitor in conjunction with IPSOS MORI has published Improving GP services: commissioners and patient choice.  This document presents the findings of a review of how GP services are working for patients.  It focuses on the role of patient choice in driving improvements in the quality of GP services.  The report draws on a survey of 3,200 patients, interviews with 25 GP providers, and information from NHS England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and other stakeholders.

Additional link: RCGP press release