One in 5 people are satisfied with the way the NHS is run according to the 2024 British Social Attitudes Survey. An analysis of the NatCen survey, published by PIF member The King's Fund and The Nuffield Trust, revealed the lowest level of satisfaction recorded since the survey began in 1983. Other key findings include:
As in previous years, a strong majority of respondents agreed the founding principles of the NHS should apply in 2024:
Read the full analysis on the Nuffield Trust website here.
PIF member National Voices has published a report based on concerns around the decision to abolish NHS England and cut ICB running costs by 50%. The charity was invited to give evidence at a specially convened Health and Social Care Select Committee in March. A newly published paper highlights evidence gathered for that session. Key points include:
The paper also emphasises the need for a directorate-level patient experience team to drive improvements.
Read the full report on the National Voices website here.
Culturally-adapted group therapy could lead to faster recovery from postnatal depression for women from British South Asian backgrounds, researchers have found. Researchers adapted group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and offered women the Positive Health Programme. The programme addressed issues such as a lack of confidence, alongside the positive role of religion and spirituality in mental health. The programme was delivered by NHS researchers who found it helped women recover from postnatal depression faster than usual care alone. Researchers hope their findings will encourage further development and commissioning of culturally-adapted CBT for postnatal depression.
Read more about the study via the NIHR website here.
Analysis of Health Research Authority (HRA) data has revealed encouraging levels of public involvement in health and social care research. The HRA sampled nearly 4,000 studies which received a favourable opinion from a Research Ethics Committee in 2023. Seven in 10 studies said they had involved patients and the public in their research. The analysis also found, although there were some great examples of public involvement, the approach was not consistent across all types of research. The figures were significantly higher for non-clinical trials and non-commercially sponsored research. Data from the report will be used to create a baseline to measure the impact of the HRA's efforts to improve the extent and quality of public involvement in health and social care research.
Read more about the data and access the full report on the HRA website here.
In an update to its plan to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, NHS England said it would be building on what is working well to drive vaccination and screening uptake and coverage. The latest data shows progress is being made. However, NHS England says inequalities in vaccination uptake and screening coverage exist among certain communities and there is variation across the country. It said achieving cervical cancer elimination is a long-term goal that depends on joined up delivery with ICBs which are best positioned to plan vaccination and screening services.
Read the updated plan on the NHS England website here.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has called for national action to tackle system-wide issues in community mental health. The latest Monitoring the Mental Health Act report highlights how demand is far outstripping capacity, leading to people being placed far from family and friends. Staff shortages are also affecting care and stopping people going outside as there is nobody to supervise them. Young people, people from ethnic minority groups and people from areas of deprivation face the biggest barriers to accessing care and are sectioned at higher rates than the general population.
Read the full report on the CQC website here.
PIF member NICE has recommended the first long-term daily pill to treat endometriosis. Relugolix–estradiol–norethisterone, also known as relugolix combination therapy or Ryeqo, works by blocking specific hormones that contribute to endometriosis. Announcing its decision, NICE said it could transform endometriosis treatment. The treatment can be taken at home and starts working more quickly than injectable alternatives. It will be available through routine NHS commissioning for patients for whom medical or surgical treatment for endometriosis has failed.
Find out more about the new pill on the NICE website here.
In this guest blog for The King's Fund, Ruth Puig-Peiro asks if it is time we started having conversations about money in healthcare settings. Ruth, health systems strategy lead at the Money and Pensions Service, argues money problems are linked to health problems and the relationship goes both ways. Ruth says early intervention, mandatory training and referral systems to welfare, money and debt advice can help prevent a range of health issues, especially mental health.