Blueprint launched for NHS and social care reform

The Department of Health and Social Care has published a new government white paper for health and care reform following the pandemic.

Announcing publication, DHSC said the changes would include:

  • Making integrated care the default
  • Reducing unnecessary legal bureaucracy
  • Improving accountability
  • Tackling health inequalities
  • Providing better support to social care, public health and the NHS

The full white paper can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

GOV.UK

Study: How different health literacy dimensions influences health and wellbeing

A new study examines the specific pathways linking different health literacy skills in men and women to health and wellbeing.

Health literacy in finding and understanding information showed a direct effect on enhancing physical health.

However, only among women did applying information capacity have a significant indirect effect predicting fewer physical symptoms and better wellbeing.

Authors concluded skill training should be developed to enhance both gender's abilities of finding and understanding health information, while the ability of applying health information should also be improved for modifying lifestyle and promoting health, particularly for women.

Wiley Online Library

How digital solutions can support the health and care of local people

In this blog, Alexis Farrow, Head of Strategy and Transformation at Connected Nottinghamshire, explains how her team set out to understand what digital solution would best support the wide spectrum of health and care needs for local people. 

She outlines an 18-month public engagement programme, its key findings, what steps were taken to integrate the NHS App as a result, working with PIF and the work that still needs to be done.

NHS Digital

New tool to support Primary Care Networks in tackling neighbourhood health inequalities

A partnership of voluntary sector organisations has launched a new tool to support Primary Care Networks to assess and improve their work with Inclusion Health groups. 

The tool is supported by NHS England and NHS Improvement.

It was developed by Friends, Families and Travellers, Homeless Link, Doctors of the World, National Ugly Mugs and Stonewall Housing, with input from Primary Care Networks, organisations specialising in work with Inclusion Health groups and people experiencing health inequalities.

Friends, Families and Travellers

Researching factors affecting ethnic minority groups during COVID-19

Four new projects, funded by UK Research and Innovation via the Economic and Social Research Council, will dig deeper into the reasons why people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

Two large consortia projects will investigate the wider social, cultural and economic impacts of the pandemic on BAME groups in Britain while two smaller projects will focus on:

  • The effects of COVID-19 on Birmingham’s ethnic minority Muslim communities
  • The impact of COVID-19 on mental health in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities

A video explaining the reasons behind the research can be viewed here

UK Research and Innovation

HCI video library now available via NHS homepage

HCI's patient information video library is now available directly via the nhs.uk homepage.

The library contains more than 600 health information videos. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic NHSX agreed to licence the library so it could be made freely available.

It was added to the NHS homepage earlier this month.

Clinicians can find information and guidance on using the videos in clinical specialties and pathways in a resource hub collated by HCI.

Health & Care Videos

Help Us Help You – Lung cancer symptoms

NHS England and Public Health England have launched the latest phase of Help Us Help You with a campaign on lung cancer symptoms.

This campaign is part of the 'access' phase of Help Us Help You.

It will seek to address the barriers deterring patients from accessing NHS services. 

The campaign focuses on encouraging the public to contact their GP practice if they are worried about a cough that lasts three weeks or more, which could be a sign of lung cancer. 

Resources are available by clicking on the link below.

Public Health England

Study: Online mental health animations for young people

A project aiming to translate qualitative research into a series of online mental health animations targeting young people has published its results after tracking social media engagement and viewing data for 12 months.

The animations were aimed at young people between the ages of 16 and 25 years and created by a collaboration between research, the Arts and online sector following thematic analysis of interviews with young people.

Authors concluded online animations provide an accessible means of translating empirical research findings into meaningful public health outputs. 

Collaboration is required to maximise the quality and potential reach of any activities. 

A high level of engagement is possible by targeting non help-seeking young people on their native social media platforms making paid promotion an important consideration.

JMIR

Young people outline their vision for community mental health services

Hundreds of young people have come together to outline their vision for what community-based mental health services should look like as part of the Our Minds Our Future project.

Supported by charities in each of the four nations of the UK, young people produced a set of calls and recommendations for mental health transformation reflecting differing local realities and lived experiences. 

However, young people were unified in calling for:

  • Services that listen to the voices and needs of young people
  • A reduction in waiting times for mental health support
  • More flexible forms of support that allow young people to engage in ways that suit them
  • An end to inequality and discrimination in the mental health system

Youth Access

New guidance from NICE

NICE has issued a new COVID-19 rapid guideline on haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The new guideline can be found here.

This week NICE also published new draft guidance on treatment options for severe pregnancy sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum). View the draft guidance by clicking on the link below.

NICE

Accessing general practice communications toolkit

NHS England has updated its toolkit to help individual practices communicate with the public about access to GP services while also running the vaccination programme.

The toolkit includes key messages and draft text which can be shared on practice's channels.

NHS England

Event: Patient and user engagement in the delivery of virtual care

The King's Fund is hosting a free online event exploring what we can learn from virtual health and care innovations accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event will also explore how patient and user involvement can be aligned in the future of virtual health and care solutions.

It takes place from noon to 1pm on 10 March. Click on the link below to register.

The King's Fund