Charities unite to tackle health inequalities
New charity members have joined the Government's refreshed Health and Wellbeing Alliance.
The 19 Alliance members for 2021 to 2024 will help ensure lived experience is at the centre of health policy development.
They aim to increase diverse representation and decrease health inequalities.
PIF member Tommy’s, heading up a maternity and neonatal consortium, will ensure views from a maternity and child loss perspective are represented in policy decisions ahead of the Women’s Health Strategy launching later this year.
Marie Curie will contribute as part of a consortium led by Hospice UK.
The Alliance will be co-ordinated by National Voices in partnership with National Association for Voluntary and Community Action.
Patient Experience in England report published
The Patient Experience Library has published its annual Patient Experience in England report.
In her foreword to the report, Donna Ockenden says patient experience needs to be taken seriously as a key part of evidence-based practice.
Key issues in the annual overview of evidence include:
- Patients' experiences of the elective care backlog
- Digital healthcare, including anxieties around data sharing and the reliability of healthcare apps
- Compliments and complaints, including how thank you letters can offer insights into patients' priorities
The Patient Experience Library
Patient leaders join new pharmaceutical industry advisory council
Eight leaders from across the patient and health charity sector have been named to the ABPI’s new Patient Advisory Council.
The new council will bring together industry and patient advocates to help ensure a more patient-centric future strategy, policy, and priorities.
The new members are: Charlotte Augst from National Voices, Emily Crossley from Duchenne UK, Jane Lyons from Cancer52, Dr Tom Nutt from Meningitis Now, Hilary Reynolds from the Association of Medical Research Charities, Jayne Spink from Prostate Cancer Research, Bob Stevens from the MPS Society, and Neil Tester from the Richmond Group.
Scotland publishes NHS recovery plan
The Scottish Government has published its NHS Recovery Plan.
It sets out key actions for the next five years to help address backlogs in healthcare and increase capacity by at least 10%.
A key aim in primary care is to restore face-to-face GP consultations as quickly and safely as possible, while ensuring everyone can continue to make use of eHealth services if that is their preference.
The plan also includes a commitment to ensuring patients are provided with information that will help manage their condition and be updated on timescales.
Guidance on working with people and communities
NHS England has published guidance to help Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) work with people and communities.
The guidance outlines 10 principles, including:
- Put the voices of people and communities at the centre of decision-making and governance
- Start engagement early when developing plans and feed back how engagement has influenced activities and decisions
- Build relationships with excluded groups
- Work with the VCSE sector as key partners
- Provide clear and accessible public information to build understanding and trust
The guidance also emphasises the importance of co-production.
Study: Experiences of self care during COVID-19
A study aims to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the self-care of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Three key themes were identified: adapting to maintain self care, managing emotions and changing communication with healthcare professionals.
Authors hope the insight gained might help inform healthcare staff and researchers on ways to support self care strategies.
British Heart Foundation publishes report on impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular care
PIF member the British Heart Foundation has published a report exploring the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on cardiovascular care.
The Untold Heartbreak also includes recommendations on what needs to be done to build a more resilient cardiovascular health system that supports all heart patients.
Updated COVID-19 guidance for unpaid carers
The Government has updated its COVID-19 guidance for people providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autism.
The guidance, originally published in April, was updated on 24 August.
Podcast: Self care, health literacy and health inequality
Self Care Forum is working with medDigital on a project called Talking Healthcare to highlight the need for increased self care and its correlation with poor health literacy and health inequality.
The collaboration begins with a series of podcasts showcasing the winner and highly commended entries of the Self Care Forum's 2020 coronavirus innovation awards.
The first podcast features Dr Kevin Auton, managing director of Aseptika who discusses his collaboration with Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge University Hospital and EAHSN to deliver cardiac rehabilitation services online during the first lockdown.
Video: Young COVID-19 patients share stories to urge others to get jabbed
Young coronavirus patients have told their stories of battling the virus and suffering long-term debilitating effects as part of a new film encouraging people to get their vaccines.
The NHS video features several patients who experienced serious symptoms of COVID-19 or developed Long Covid, as well as the doctors and frontline staff who treated them.
It is narrated by A&E doctor, Dr Emeka Okorocha.
Blood pressure resources for young adults
The London Doctors Clinic has published a guide on what young adults need to know about blood pressure.
The guide includes blood pressure facts and figures, advice on managing blood pressure and links to further information.