Accessible Information Standard updates; Patient safety review; Inequalities among older people

Updates to The Accessible Information Standard

NHS England has published the long-awaited update to the Accessible Information Standard. The standard aims to ensure people with a disability, impairment or sensory loss can receive information in an accessible format and have access to necessary communication support. Changes to the standard include:

• Updates to the language and structure to make it easier for organisations to implement.
• Greater clarity on organisations’ responsibilities.
• The addition of a sixth ‘review stage’ to help improve compliance with the standard.
• The introduction of a self-assessment framework.

The update also incorporates legislative changes since 2016 and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and is now compatible with the Care Quality Commission’s assessment framework.

PIF member RNIB cautiously welcomed the update as a "step forward". However it said further progress was needed in three key areas: NHS and social care IT systems, improving staff training and clear accountability.

Read more about the revised standard on the NHS England website here.

Read the RNIB's response here.

Major review of patient safety organisations

Nine recommendations have been made following a review of organisations established to either assure – or contribute to improving – the safety of care. The review was commissioned after an earlier report highlighted the highly fragmented landscape of bodies influencing quality of care. The review focused on six organisations with a significant role in patient or user safety, including Healthwatch England, the Patient Safety Commissioner and NHS Resolution. It recommends streamlining, simplifying and consolidating functions where "considerable duplication and overlap currently exist". This specifically applies to user, patient or community engagement, capturing the user voice and investigations.

Read the full report via the GOV.UK website here.

Older people in the North facing 'alarming' inequalities

A new report from the Northern Health Science Alliance reveals older people in the North of England are more likely to be poorer, less healthy, physically inactive, lonely and in poor housing. Ageing in the North catalogues an “alarming” range of disadvantages faced by older people living in the North including:

• Those in the North are more likely to leave the job market due to poor health, while those in the South are more likely to retire.
• Older people living in the North East and North West are more likely to be frail.
• Men aged 65 and over in the North East are predicted to have the highest number of unhealthy years of life on average.
• There is a two-year life expectancy gap between the North and the rest of England.

Leading academics behind the report are calling on the Government to recognise the challenges faced by people in later life and to prioritise tackling the root causes of unequal ageing.

Read the full report on the Northern Health Science Alliance website here.

Study: Exploring attitudes to risk-based bowel screening

A co-created info-comic book has been used to facilitate discussion on bowel cancer risk factors. Researchers exploring public and healthcare professional attitudes towards risk-based bowel screening held five virtual focus groups. The comic book was used to assist with the dissemination of risk-based information and as a "third prompt". There was consensus that more intense screening for those of higher risk is acceptable, but this should not imply less screening for those of lower risk. Participants felt the current screening programme was equitable and clear communication was needed if this was going to change. 

Find out more about the study and its conclusions via the Wiley website here.

Support for plan to reset health and social care

A plan to reset health and social care in Northern Ireland has been welcomed by members of the NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON). Specifically, NICON members welcomed a focus on working more closely with the public, capitalising on digital investment and driving income generation through innovation and research. 

Read more on the reset plan on the Northern Ireland Department of Health website here.

Study: Patient outcomes improved by social prescribing link workers

A study of more than 4 million patient records has concluded the rollout of social prescribing link workers has led to improved patient outcomes and experiences. The Social Prescribing Link Workers scheme connects patients to activities and support in their communities which boost health and wellbeing. Identified benefits for those with one or more long term conditions included increased confidence in managing conditions and feeling more supported by local services. Those with mental health needs were also more likely to feel their needs were understood.

Read more about the study on the National Academy for Social Prescribing website here.

New health management engine aims to streamline clinical trial recruitment

A new population health management (PHM) engine aims to support NHS and clinical research organisations to accelerate clinical trial recruitment. Patients Know Best (PKB), the personal health record platform, launched PHM earlier this month. It enables the automated identification of specific patient cohorts for relevant clinical trials and personalised health guidance.

Read more about the PHM engine via Health Tech Newspaper here.

Webinar: Using a Conversation Café toolkit for women's health

The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (The ALLIANCE) is hosting a webinar about its Conversation Café toolkit next week. The toolkit was created to encourage information sharing and peer support in women’s health. It offers resources, recommendations and guidance on hosting independent Conversation Cafés. The webinar will take place on 23 July from 10am to 11.30am. It is for those considering using the toolkit, facilitators looking for additional tips and support, and for those interested in promoting positive discussion spaces on women’s health. 

Find out more and register for the webinar on the ALLIANCE website here.