Putting Patients First Week

The Medical Technology Group (MTG) is launching a new patient-focused campaign – Putting Patients First Week.

The virtual activity week will start at 10.30am on Monday 14 September.

Activities will be centred around the following three MTG recommendations:

  • NHS and Government to provide clear communication to patients around accessing NHS services
  • Ensure patients can work with healthcare professionals to make informed decisions around their own care
  • Central guidance to be provided to NHS Trusts to increase capacity through joint working in local areas and making use of independent providers

For more information about activities, click on the link below.

Medical Technology Group

COVID-19 has increased inequalities for disabled people

The Glasgow Disability Alliance has released a new report outlining how COVID-19 has increased inequalities for people with disabilities and emphasising the importance of inclusive, accessible communication.

Supercharged: A Human Catastrophe – Inequalities Participation and Human Rights, before, during and beyond COVID-19 includes the experiences of 5,000 disabled people.

It shows COVID-19 has 'supercharged' existing inequalities, responses have created new inequalities and plans for recovery and renewal risk leaving disabled people 'even further behind'.

The alliance makes a series of recommendations based on its findings. These include:

  • Embedding the lived experience of disabled people in all planning for recovery and renewal
  • Investment in inclusive community learning and development
  • Promotion of inclusive, accessible communication for all
  • Co-designing a disability equality plan

Click on the link below to read the report in full.

Glasgow Disability Alliance

Study: Influence of social media on public health protection

A study has concluded the use of social media platforms can positively influence awareness of public health behavioural changes and public protection against COVID-19. 

Authors concluded public health authorities may use social media platforms as an effective tool to increase public health awareness through dissemination of brief messages to targeted populations. 

However, they also said more research is needed to validate how social media channels can be used to improve health knowledge and adoption of healthy behaviours in a cross-cultural context.

JMIR Publications

Meeting the needs of people with a learning disability or autism

A briefing by NHS Providers outlines how NHS services can meet the needs of people with a learning disability or autism.

It says the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into sharper focus the longstanding, structural inequities people with a learning disability or autism have faced.

The briefing outlines a number of actions providers and their partners must take to tackle these inequities, including:

  • Tackling the stigma associated with learning difficulties and autism and raising awareness of the need to improve accessibility
  • Progressing plans set out in the NHS long term plan to support local providers to develop new models of care

It also highlights what trusts have done well to maintain services and support during COVID-19.

In particular, it highlights the importance of regular, accessible information which is up-to-date.

This includes information which is easy to read, as well as translated materials.

NHS Providers

Webinar: Personalising digital tools for people with learning disabilities

The King's Fund is holding a free online event on personalising digital tools for people with learning disabilities.

The hour-long event on Thursday 8 October will discuss concrete examples of innovative digital solutions and consider how technology can help with personalising care.

For more information and to book a place, click on the link below.

The King's Fund

Coproduction: when users define quality

This article, published by BMJ Quality and Safety, takes an in-depth look at coproduction – including its potential benefits and how it can become part of mainstream healthcare.

The authors say coproduction can help to increase patient resilience and autonomy, allowing them to manage the burdens of health problems where possible and potentially reduce the likelihood of future problems.

They say coproduction differs from a traditional approach to long-term conditions which often leads to unilateral recommendations. 

Instead, a collaborative process means an individual’s goals help determine the plan, as well as professionally set targets, guidelines or clinical recommendations. 

BMJ Quality and Safety

Podcast: Communicating complex health messages

In this Health Literacy Out Loud podcast, Helen Osborne talks to Glen Nowak about communicating complex health messages in a complex world.

They discuss why it is so complicated to communicate public health messages, ways to address myths and hearsay which may conflict with core messages and how to learn about and address the needs of your audience.

Health Literacy Out Loud

A public health approach to improving outcomes for vulnerable children

A new Public Health England report sets out how a public health informed approach offers 'substantial opportunities' to reduce inequalities and improve health and wellbeing outcomes for vulnerable children.

No child left behind: a public health informed approach to improving outcomes for vulnerable children is based on primary prevention, early intervention and mitigation.

Primary prevention includes interventions to address the root causes of vulnerability, tackling health inequalities and the wider determinants of health.

Early intervention, includes support for children and their families, including appropriate information and advice.

Mitigation is about ensuring services help to reduce the negative impact of circumstances and experiences and build resilience.

Public Health England

Ensure support for digital based patient-initiated follow ups

This article discusses how digital patient-initiated follow up (PIFU) models can offer patients more control over their care and what support is needed to ensure it works for individuals.

It comes as new guidance issued by NHS England on phase three of the health service’s response to COVID-19 recommended the use of PIFU processes in secondary care.

Digital Health

Self Care Week resources

Free resources are now available for organisations and individuals planning events for Self Care Week 2020.

The Self Care Forum has published several resources ahead of the awareness week, which this year takes place from 16 to 22 November.

Resources include an eight-point framework on planning the type of awareness week which best suits your needs.

Self Care Forum