A project has explored how integrated care systems can overcome persistent barriers to help unlock the prevention agenda. The NHS Confederation, in partnership with Newton and the Universities of Stirling and Southampton, undertook the project which also uncovered best practice across the country. The project found most integrated care systems have prioritised prevention at a strategic level. However, there are others that are going further, often driven by leaders who are able to ringfence funding towards well-evidenced preventative interventions. The project also found persistent barriers to prevention and an enduring gap between commitment and progress. The report makes several recommendations to government and national bodies to accelerate work on a national framework for measuring prevention spending.
Find out more about the project and read the full report on the NHS Confederation website here.
A research paper sets out how a self-management toolkit to support people with Parkinson's disease was developed using a co-design process. The paper explains how self-management interventions have shown promise in improving the quality of life for people with chronic conditions. It describes the development processes and the core components of the Live Well with Parkinson's toolkit. A co-design group was established consisting of people with Parkinson's, family carers and health and social care experts to produce and refine an online self-management toolkit to be tested in practice. The paper says the toolkit has the potential to be embedded within routine healthcare.
Read more about the co-design of the toolkit via the Wiley Online Library here.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the regulatory framework for medical devices. The MHRA wants to develop a future regime for medical devices that enables: improved patient and public safety; innovation; close alignment with international best practice; and risk proportionate regulation of medical devices. The agency is inviting members of the public – including patients, medical device researchers, developers, manufacturers and suppliers, clinicians and other healthcare professionals – to provide their views on proposed changes that will help it meet these objectives. The consultation closes on 5 January 2025.
Find out more and take part in the consultation via GOV.UK here.
In a new interview for the Empowered Health newsletter, PIF founder Mark Duman, talks about how the healthcare landscape has evolved and the future role of life sciences companies in empowering patients. Mark discusses how his thinking of patient and caregiver engagement has evolved, his worries about AI and being mindful of digital literacy as we explore the potential of digital platforms.
Read the full Empowered Health interview with Mark via LinkedIn here.
A new report by the Children's Commissioner sets out an ambition that children with autism, ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions should receive excellent support with or without a diagnosis. The report says children are waiting years for assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic support. It says part of the problem is a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system that relies on a diagnosis-led, rather than needs-led, model of support. The Children's Commissioner makes a series of recommendations to improve support for children and their families, including better support while people wait and tackling health inequalities.
Read the full report on the Children's Commissioner website here.
A new study has explored the performance of AI chatbots in recommending ophthalmic outpatient registration and diagnosing eye diseases. The cross-sectional study used clinical cases to create patient profiles and these profiles served as independent queries for chatbots. The study concluded that AI chatbots show promise in facilitating ophthalmic patient registration, although their integration into diagnostic decision-making requires more validation.
Read more about the study via the JMIR website here.
Women are being encouraged to take part in a survey about the healthcare challenges and barriers they face. The Women’s Health Survey for Northern Ireland, is part funded by the Department of Health and is being carried out by the School of Nursing & Midwifery at Queen’s University, Belfast, in partnership with Derry Well Women. The survey will collect anonymous data on a range of topics including women’s priorities for their health, barriers to accessing health services and how women’s voices are integrated into the planning and delivery of healthcare services. The survey will close on 31 January 2025.
Find out more and access the survey via the Department of Health website here.
Registration is now open for NHS ConfedExpo 2025. The conference, organised by the NHS Confederation and NHS England, is being held from 11-12 June at Manchester Central. It will bring together more than 5,000 leaders, professionals and partners from across the health and care sector to collaborate, share insights and develop innovative solutions to deliver high quality care for all. Early bird rates for tickets are available until 31 January. The conference is free to attend for NHS, local government, and wider public sector staff.
Find out more and book your pass on the NHS ConfedExpo website here.
International speakers will share policy and practice illustrating the contribution of community hospitals to integrated care and support closer to home at an upcoming webinar. Care and support at home: The role of Community Hospitals is being co-hosted by The ALLIANCE, Health and Social Care Scotland, University of the West of Scotland and UK Community Hospitals Association. The webinar is being held on 27 November from 4pm-5.30pm.