Members of the public, NHS staff and experts are being called upon to share their views on the government’s 10 Year Health Plan. The Change NHS online platform launched this week and will be live until the start of next year. People can also take part via the NHS App. The 10 Year Health Plan will be underlined by three big shifts in healthcare:
PIF will be contributing to the consultation and is planning a member event to help inform our response. The 10 Year Health Plan will be published in spring 2025.
Organisations and individuals can take part in the consultation via the Change NHS platform here.
A new report has found people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities facing mental illness or distress encounter barriers in accessing personalised mental health care. The report by the Association of Mental Health Providers, NHS England and the Race Equality Foundation found a particular challenge around Personal Health Budgets (PHBs). PHBs use NHS funding to develop tailored care plans. However their "transformative nature" is not being met for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals. The report highlights the need to engage both those in need of support and providing services to address inequalities.
Read the full report on the Race Equality Foundation website here.
A study has emphasised the need for transparency and awareness about health data sharing for research. The study, which focused on data for musculoskeletal research, found there was low awareness about how the data was used. Although many people are supportive of their deidentified health care data being used for research, concerns about privacy, safety, and security of health care data remain. The study explored ways to build and sustain public trust in health data sharing for a research program.
Read the study findings in full via the JMIR website here.
A new scheme will see women directly referred to a breast diagnostic clinic via the NHS App without the need for a GP appointment. The pilot will be trialled in Somerset before being evaluated for further rollout across England. Health secretary Wes Streeting announced the scheme at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Conference in Liverpool.
Read more about the pilot via DigitalHealth here.
A study has highlighted the need to change how healthcare professionals communicate with older patients about medication during discharge. The qualitative study highlighted a number of issues including the use of overly complex language and a mismatch between self care guidance and the needs and preferences of patients and caregivers. This resulted in significant safety risks for older patients. Researchers argue adopting a person-centred care approach in medication communication by healthcare professionals is crucial to ensure positive health outcomes.
Read the full study findings via the Wiley Online Library here.
People in Scotland are being invited to take part in a study which will help develop a national survey around mental health services. The Scottish Government has commissioned The Lines Between, a social research organisation, to carry out an options study. The results will inform the development of a survey exploring experiences of mental health services and support. There is currently no standardised or national method of collecting feedback from people about their experience of mental health services in Scotland. The Scottish Government wants to understand what information is needed and how it might be collected to improve services.
Find out more about the study and how to take part via the SnapSurveys website here.
The latest King’s Fund podcast delves into the impact the new Labour government has had on health and care in its first 100 days. Host Andrew McCracken is joined by guests Charlotte Wickens and Siva Anandaciva as they discuss the Darzi review, a new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Prime Minister's visit to the King's Fund Annual Conference and the upcoming 10-year plan for health and care.
Find the latest episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.