A report has called for better NHS administration after polling revealed 1 in 5 people who used the NHS in the past 12 months received an appointment invitation after the date of the appointment. Lost in the system: the need for better admin says getting the basics of admin right matters when it comes to people’s experience of using the NHS and judging how well it is working. This includes enabling people to book, change or cancel an appointment, and communicating with people about their care in ways that work for them.
The report, which is jointly published by PIF members The King's Fund and National Voices, along with Healthwatch England, says the burden of poor admin does not fall equally. Those who have additional needs, low health literacy levels, lack of phone or internet access or multiple health conditions often have the greatest burden placed on them. It makes a series of recommendations including:
Read the full report via The King's Fund website here.
Researchers have developed and tested patient-reported experience measures for children and young people with intellectual disability who use inpatient hospital services. A patient-reported experience measure previously developed for children aged 8–11 years was revised in conjunction with a parent advisory group and children and young people with intellectual disability. Parents suggested a single patient-reported experience measure which contained simpler language, fewer questions and response options, and images to illustrate each question. The final patient-reported experience measure had 22 questions, each with a corresponding image, and a free text box. It was tested in children's inpatient wards at seven hospitals in England over a three-month period. Work to extend testing to a wider group is underway.
Read more via the Wiley Online Library here.
A review of mobile apps and digital resources aiming to support the needs of children with developmental concerns or neurodevelopmental conditions has been conducted. The study found autism was the most common topic for apps and digital resources. Reviewed resources were found to be engaging, with high levels of accessibility and functionality. However, the information quality, including credibility of source and evidence base, was,mostly low. Apps and digital resources with good credibility and an existing evidence base were largely developed in partnership with research, health, or government institutions and were rated significantly higher on overall quality.
Read more via the JMIR website here.
PIF member NICE has published updated guidance on nutrition and weight management in pregnancy, and nutrition in children up to five years old. The guidance includes recommendations on topics including vitamin supplementation, healthy eating and breastfeeding and formula feeding. The recommendations are relevant for healthcare professionals responsible for maternal and child nutrition, commissioners and providers and people who look after babies and children up to five years old.
Read the full guidance via the NICE website here.
A research study commissioned by the General Medical Council (GMC) found doctors who use artificial intelligence (AI) see benefits for their own efficiency and for patient care. A series of in-depth interviews were carried out with 17 doctors who had used AI in the last 12 months. The aim was to find out more about the types of AI they were using, how well they understood the risks and what they do if they disagree with the output of an AI system. Researchers found, while doctors recognised the benefits of AI, they also understood emergent technologies presented risks and saw potential for AI-generated answers to be based on data that could be false or biased. However, many felt confident to override decisions made by AI systems if necessary.
Read more via the Digital Health website here.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued new guidance to help manufacturers meet UK medical devices regulations and ensure digital mental health technologies are effective, reliable and acceptably safe. Digital mental health technologies – such as mental health apps, AI-powered assessments, and virtual reality therapy – are being increasingly used by individuals and the NHS to support mental health. The new guidance aims to support safe access to these digital tools by clarifying when a product needs regulatory approval and the steps developers must take.
Find out more and access the full guidance on the MHRA website here.
The King's Fund is hosting a free virtual event to discuss findings from its upcoming long read on designing inclusive and trusted digital services with people and communities, commissioned by the Health Foundation. The event on 25 February will bring together key stakeholders to explore: