Establishing the National Institute for Health Protection

A new UK Parliament insight paper reveals more details about the role of the National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP) ahead of it being formally established in spring 2021.

Most functions confirmed to be moving to the NIHP relate to either managing the current COVID-19 outbreak or preparations for future epidemics and emergencies.

NIHP’s responsibilities will extend to the National Infections Services, the regional and specialist public health microbiology laboratory network and the Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards. 

At the local level, PHE local health protection teams will fall under the NIHP.

The Government has said that responsibility for non-health protection functions, like health improvement, remain under consideration.

UK Parliament

New online health inequalities portal

EuroHealthNet has launched a new online portal for information and resources on health inequalities in Europe.

Designed to be used for the international exchange of information, the hub includes a definition of health equity, as well as information on:

  • Health inequalities research
  • International, national and regional policy
  • Data
  • Public health and other practices and projects
  • EU initiatives
  • Financing
  • Tools
  • Publications

It can be used by anyone with a role in COVID-19 recovery or health inequalities research.

Health Inequalities Portal

The health of people from ethnic minority groups in England

The King's Fund has published a new explainer examining the differences in health outcomes for ethnic minority groups.

The report highlights the variations across groups and conditions and considers what is needed to reduce health inequalities.

It says the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need to strengthen action to prevent and manage ill health in ethnic minority communities.

Active engagement is needed to ensure the planning and delivery of services takes account of their needs, experiences and expectations.

The King's Fund

COVID-19 vaccination – supporting people with a learning disability

NHS England has published new guidance on communicating with people with a learning disability or autism about COVID-19 vaccinations.

The tips highlight the range of reasonable adjustments that should be considered to ensure that a vaccination appointment goes well.

NHS England

Event: Connected Nottinghamshire webinar

The Digital Health and Care Alliance is hosting a webinar on the Connected Nottinghamshire project on 3 March.

Speakers include Alexis Farrow, Head of Strategy and Transformation at Connected Nottinghamshire, Tom Gausden and Chris Marsh from Patients Know Best and Matt Harris and David Hodnett from the NHS App.

PIF has been working with Connected Nottinghamshire on its integration project. For more details of the webinar, and to book, click on the link below.

DHACA

Examining trends in the quality of integrated care

The latest Quality Watch update from Nuffield Trust examines the trends in the quality of integrated care.

It re-examines indicators from the 2019 Quality Watch Are patients benefitting from better integrated care? using the latest data which mostly covers time periods before the coronavirus pandemic.

Some measures, such as the employment rate among adults with a long-term condition, have improved over time.

However, others, such as support for people with multiple long-term conditions and the proportion of people with multiple emergency admissions in the last year of life, have not. 

The report recognises measuring integration is difficult and there is a lack of data from social care and community services.

Nuffield Trust

New COVID-19 factsheet available in 22 languages

The European Lung Foundation has published a new COVID-19 factsheet pulling together all the information it has produced over the past year.

It provides reliable expert information, including some specific information for people with lung conditions, but most of the information will apply to everybody.

The factsheet is available to download for free in 22 languages.

European Lung Foundation

New graphics to show support for vaccine rollout 

Social media platforms and celebrities have teamed up with the Government and NHS to launch new graphics showing support for COVID-19 vaccine roll-out.

The range of frames and GIFs include designs featuring the NHS, the Premier League, the Beano and Charlie Mackesy.

Images are available across the UK and allow users to show “I’ve had my vaccine” or pledge “I’ll get my vaccine”.

Facebook frames and Instagram GIFS are available.

GOV.UK

Study: Youth and family engagement in a randomised controlled trial

A new study explores the project team's experience of youth and family engagement in the design and development of the YouthCan IMPACT randomised controlled trial and clinical service pathway design.

Researchers found facilitators included a safe environment and strong procedures conducive to inclusion in co‐design. 

Barriers included logistical, structural and institutional constraints. 

Overall, team members found youth and family engagement to be valuable and to positively impact the research and service design process.

Authors concluded future research should evaluate the long‐term impact of early engagement and further focus on family engagement.

Wiley Online Library

Looking Ahead 2021: Reset, partnerships, recovery

Wilmington Healthcare has published a new white paper – Looking Ahead 2021: Reset, partnerships, recovery.

The paper identifies some emerging trends within the UK healthcare system and seeks to establish some of the future policy that will come to fruition in 2021 and change the NHS landscape.

Wilmington Healthcare

NICE updates rapid guidelines on COVID-19

NICE has published updates on several of its rapid guidelines on COVID-19.

It has added recommendations to section 4, clinical decision making and management, of its critical care in adults guideline. The update follows publication of NHS England’s interim commissioning policies on tocilizumab and sarilumab.

Additional information added to the delivery of systemic anticancer treatments guideline includes updates to information on vaccination status in recommendation 3.3, an increased emphasis on the importance of reaching a shared decision in recommendation 4.5 and two research recommendations.

Three research recommendations have also been added to the delivery of radiotherapy guideline.

Good practice guide to support trauma-informed care in the perinatal period

NHS England has published a good practice guide to support implementation of trauma-informed care in the perinatal period.

The guide applies to all staff, clinical and non-clinical, working with perinatal women in maternity and mental health services.

It is also for parents to help them understand what good trauma-informed practice might look like.

NHS England

Study: Reasonable adjustments for people with intellectual disability in acute care

A literature review has attempted to ascertain what reasonable adjustments are evident in acute care to support people with intellectual disability, ensuring they have fair access and utilisation of health services.

It highlighted a lack of research on the practice and implementation of reasonable adjustments within acute care settings. 

Authors concluded there is a need for increased support, education and the provision of intellectual disability specialists across acute care settings.

BMJ Open