Findings from the Homeless Health Needs Audit
A new report outlines the scale of health inequalities facing people who are homeless.
Unhealthy State of Homelessness 2022 presents findings from 31 Homeless Health Needs Audits, representing 2,776 individuals. Key findings include:
- People experiencing homelessness suffer from worse physical and mental health than the general population
- 63% of respondents reported a long term illness, disability or infirmity
- The number of people with a mental health diagnosis increased from 45% in 2014 to 82% in the 2018-2021 cohort
- 45% of respondents reported self-medicating with drugs or alcohol to help them cope with their mental health
- Of those who had been admitted to hospital, nearly a quarter (24%) had been discharged to the streets
The report says we need to understand why people experiencing homelessness report poorer diagnoses and greater barriers to healthcare and address the systematic change needed.
Experiences of being in hospital for people with a learning disability and autistic people
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a report on the experiences of being in hospital for people with a learning disability and autistic people.
It says Who I am Matters is a 'stark reminder that people with a learning disability and autistic people are still not getting the care they need, when they need'. Key findings include:
- People found it difficult to access care because there were no reasonable adjustments made
- There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution for communication
- People are not being fully involved in their care and treatment. In many cases, this is because there is not enough listening, communication and involvement.
- Equality characteristics, such as age, race and sexual orientation, risk being overshadowed by a person’s learning disability or autism because staff lacked knowledge and understanding about inequalities
Study: Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among South Asians in London
A new study aims to identify the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among South Asians in London.
Its distinguishes between people who are COVID-19 vaccine-hesitant and those who are COVID-19 vaccine-anxious.
Findings suggest some individuals may be existing in a state of 'inbetweeness' – neither pro nor anti vaccination – while simultaneously questioning the many 'truths' surrounding COVID-19.
This state is intensified by technology and social media, culminating in the Rashomon Effect where a combination of truths, fractured truths, subjective realities and unreliable or contradictory sources impact perceptions of COVID-19.
Researchers argue promoting trust and prioritising good ongoing care as a response to the effects of the pandemic is vital.
See the full study findings here.
Cost of living report calls for further emergency support
The ALLIANCE has published a report looking at the impact of the cost of living crisis in Scotland.
The report is based on engagement with disabled people, people living with long term conditions and unpaid carers.
It highlights widespread concern among disabled people about being able to afford the energy required to power and charge essential assistive technologies.
The report makes a series of recommendations including:
- Emergency cost of living payments should be a priority for the Scottish Government
- The UK Government should uprate reserved social security payments in line with inflation
- Both governments take actions to address the root causes of the crisis by investing in renewable energy, energy efficiency and poverty reduction measures
Access the full report via the ALLIANCE website here.
Study: Online health information seeking among people with chronic conditions
A new study aims to integrate two theories with a critical health literacy perspective to understand online health information seeking among patients with chronic conditions.
Researchers aimed to integrate the health belief model and social support theory with critical health literacy.
The results suggest perceived risk and benefits significantly affected patients’ online health information seeking behaviours.
Informational and emotional support also impacted the perceived benefits of online sources for patients.
Critical health literacy significantly moderated the link between perceived risk and online health information seeking behaviours but not the relationship between perceived benefits.
Read the full study results here.
Social prescribing information standard
PIF partner the Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB) has published a new social prescribing information standard.
The standard aims to enable the sharing and recording of information for the whole patient journey, including:
- Information to support conversations between the link worker and the person
- Information to support people, show their healthcare is joined up and avoid them having to retell their story multiple times
- Information that can be shared with the person themselves, their family or carer
- Summary information back to the referrer and GP for the person’s overall record
- Information for secondary uses, for example, understanding the scale and effectiveness of social prescribing services
PIF is an endorser of the standard.
Event: The 3Rs of co-production: Reality
The Coalition For Personalised Care is hosting a series of events focusing on the biggest issues encountered in discussions about doing co-production well.
The next event, which takes place from 1.30pm-3pm on 16 November, is Reality: What is really happening in co-production right now for you?.
Anyone who has taken part in co-production activities is invited to share experiences of implementing and participating in co-production, with the aim of starting an ongoing dialogue.
Workshops will be attended by guest contributors from the NHSE Personalised Care Group Lived Experience team and C4PC Partner Co-production Works.
The power of music for CPR
PIF member The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has launched a new tool to help people discover which of their favourite songs are Lifesaving Beats.
Lifesaving Beats allows users to check which of their favourite songs has the perfect beat for CPR.
It then invites them to learn CPR using the charity's free RevivR tool.
Check out the Lifesaving Beats tool here.
Self-care interventions and practices as essential approaches to strengthening healthcare delivery
This article for The Lancet discusses the key role healthcare workers have in realising the potential of self care.
The authors says healthcare professionals' authority can be decisive in how confidently people care for themselves and those around them.
In settings where healthcare functions well, trust between health workers and users provides a foundation to support self care.
Trust generates opportunities to improve health literacy, provide access to educational resources and support networks, and to assist in the navigation of complex health systems.
Sensory-friendly resource pack
NHS England has published a resource pack to support Integrated Care Systems in developing sensory-friendly environments for autistic people.
This pack is intended to support delivery of NHS Long Term Plan commitments for autistic people and the further prevention of mental health crisis in children, young people and adults who are autistic.
It also aims to address issues raised about un-sensory-friendly environments impacting on poor quality care for autistic children and adults.
All elements have been co-produced with people with lived experience, family carers and clinicians.
Access the resource pack here.
Study: The experience of patient partners in research
A qualitative systematic review aims to provide an in-depth view of the experiences of patient partners in research.
In the majority of cases, patient engagement was reported to have positive psychological effects.
Patient partners found it gratifying to see the results of their contributions and were proud to have a part in the improvement of other patients’ care.
However, challenges included patient partners feeling inadequately prepared for research activities and the formation of hierarchies of powers.
Projects in which patient partners did not feel useful or competent did not lead to positive impacts.
Researchers hope the findings will allow future research teams to improve patient engagement and lead to better experiences for patient partners.
Read the findings in full here.
Event: NHS Confed Expo 2023
Pre-registration for NHS Confed Expo 2023, which takes place from 14-15 June, is now open.
Anyone who would like to attend next year's Expo can express their interest via the event website.
They will be the first to receive registration details and costs when bookings open.
NHS, local authority and wider public sector staff will be eligible for a free ticket.