Prepared by Audit Scotland February 2024
he Scottish Government needs to develop a clear national strategy for health and social care to address the pressures on services.
Significant changes are needed to ensure the financial sustainability of Scotland’s health service. Growing demand, operational challenges and increasing costs have added to the financial pressures the NHS was already facing. Its longer-term affordability is at risk without reform.
Read the report – NHS in Scotland 2023
DHSC – 11th March 2024
A core responsibility of the NHS is to maintain the highest standards of safety and effectiveness of medical devices available for all patients in its care. Evidence has emerged, however, about the potential for racial and ethnic bias in the design and use of some medical devices commonly used in the NHS, and that some ethnic groups may receive sub-optimal treatment as a result.
In response to these concerns, the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, commissioned this independent review on equity in medical devices.
The purpose of the review was to:
The final report was published on 11 March 2024 and made 18 recommendations.
The summary report contains the following sections of the full report:
The review has now concluded and has been published alongside the government response to the report of the equity in medical devices: independent review.
Read the report – Equity in medical devices: independent review – full report (web accessible)
NHS England – 7th March 2024
The 2023 NHS Staff Survey results published at 9:30am on Thursday 7 March 2024 on the Staff Survey Coordination Centre website.
The survey collects staff views and experiences of working in their NHS organisation. Results are presented for individual NHS organisations, and national, regional and ICS level results are presented with a breakdown by organisation type, staff group and demographic characteristics. The survey is conducted by the Survey Coordination Centre on behalf of NHS England. Results are published on the NHS Staff Survey website.
Further information – 2023 NHS Staff Survey
BMA – March 2024
This document sets out a safe scope of practice for MAPs, which NHS employing organisations should adopt to help doctors and other staff to provide safe, high-quality care. These safe practice parameters reflect the notion that MAPs’
qualifications are appropriate for working in an assistant role under the direct supervision of a doctor and at no stage should any MAP work beyond the parameters of this scope document. We recommend that that these safe parameters are regularly reviewed (at least every 5 years) to ensure they remain appropriate and that no
additional definitions are needed.
Read the guidance – Safe scope of practice for Medical Associate Professionals (MAPs)
Centre for Mental Health – 5th March 2024
Older people’s mental health has long been overlooked. Poor mental health is often dismissed by health professionals as an ‘inevitable’ part of getting older. And despite NHS Talking Therapies having higher than average recovery rates among the over-65s, this service is less likely to be offered to older people.
Commissioned by Age UK, this briefing summarises evidence about the mental health of older people in England. It finds that ageist attitudes underpin a system that discriminates against older people, while fatalistic assumptions about what people can expect for their mental health in later life undermine the provision of effective support to promote wellbeing, prevent mental ill health and treat mental health difficulties.
The briefing finds that while older people may possess many protective factors for good mental health, they face numerous risk factors, including poorer physical health, reduced mobility and, for some, poverty and racism. Tackling the risk factors and boosting protective factors can increase wellbeing in later life and either prevent or stop the escalation of mental health problems.
There is no national plan or blueprint for mental health support in later life. As the population ages, this is becoming more urgent. Mental health in later life opens up a conversation that has been left on the margins of policy and practice for too long, making key recommendations of how we can create better mental health for older people.
Read the report – Mental health in later life – Understanding needs, policies and services in England
Social Market Foundation – 2024
Singapore spends less on health care than the UK, and achieves remarkable health outcomes. Yet it is often unclear how far these lower costs are due to the design of its health care system as opposed to wider societal and cultural factors. This paper focuses specifically on primary care, and argues that Singaporean-style polyclinics and telemedicine could help drive efficiency in the UK, as they have done in Singapore.
What the NHS can and cannot learn from the Singaporean health care system
NHS Confederation – 6th March 2024
The report provides unique insights into the diversity of NHS communications leaders, their capacity and resources, ways of working, and what they regard as their key challenges. The centrepiece is a survey of almost 200 communications leaders, including 130 who identified as the most senior communications professional in their organisation (just under half of those working in England’s NHS trusts and integrated care boards).
Read the report – The state of NHS communications
NHS Confederation – 5th March 2024
Following the Hewitt review recommendation to consider alternative payment mechanisms within the health system, this discussion paper explores examples of international and domestic payment mechanisms. The paper is intended to support further discussion and debate and to inform future policymaking to support integration.
Read the report – Unlocking reform and financial sustainability: NHS payment mechanisms for the integrated care age
Health and Social Care Select Committee
This report covers: parliament and the current law; the government’s role in the debate; international examples of jurisdictions where assisted dying/assisted suicide is available in some form; the involvement of physicians and assessments of eligibility and capacity to give informed consent; and palliative and end-of-life care. It identifies the pursuit of high-quality compassionate end-of-life care as a common theme in the evidence received, as well as agency and control for the person dying
NHS Providers – 28th February 2024
The NHS is the keystone in the health of our nation, inextricably linked to our economic and social prosperity. Its key principles must be championed and protected at the same time as reflecting on the challenges it faces.
In anticipation of the next general election, this briefing outlines five shared commitments focused on working with the government to deliver the next generation NHS and create a picture of health that is responsive, effective and continuously improving.
Quality Improvement News 