NICE guidance: Common chronic pain treatments

A number of commonly used drug treatments for chronic primary pain have 'little or no evidence' that they work and should not be prescribed, NICE has said.

New draft clinical guidance on the assessment and management of chronic pain in over 16s was published on 3 August.

The draft guideline, which is now open to public consultation until 14 September 2020, says people with chronic primary pain should be offered supervised group exercise programmes, some types of psychological therapy, or acupuncture.

It emphasises the importance of putting the patient at the centre of their care, and of fostering a collaborative, supportive relationship between patient and healthcare professional. 

It also highlights the role of good communication and its impact on the experience of care for people with chronic pain.  

NICE

How digital records can improve safety

In this blog for the Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB), Marlene Winfield discusses the findings of the First Do No Harm review and how digital records could help improve patient safety.

She says the review catalogued a 'shocking lack of information' about treatments and outcomes and questions why we are not making use of the capability to record information and standardise health records across the country.

Marlene also says a lack of collaborative approach, where the patient's input is listened to and valued, is detrimental to safety in care.

PRSB

Digital Health Generation report published

The final report of the Wellcome Trust's Digital Health Generation project has now been published.

It includes new insights on young people’s use of digital health technologies promoting 'healthy lifestyles' and involved research with more than 1,000 young people and families over two years. 

The experiences captured point to the complexities of digital health and the need to avoid technological determinism.

Many of the young people who took part had experiences of digital health which were both positive and problematic.

The project found they accessed a 'vast range' of health-related content online, frequently using search engines and health information websites.

Wellcome Trust

Webinar: Creating accessible and inclusive digital content

Texthelp is hosting a webinar on how to create accessible and inclusive digital content.

The webinar, from 2pm on 17 September, features speakers from Content Design London, AbilityNet and Texthelp

For more information and to register click on the link below.

Texthelp

Survey: Designing treatments, support and services around the patient

A 20-minute survey aims to understand attitudes on how manufacturers of prescription medicines can help meet the needs of people with a wide range of health conditions by designing treatments, support and services around what is important to the patient.

The survey is being carried out by Synergy Healthcare Research on behalf of Janssen.

Click on the link below to complete the survey.

Synergy

NHS launches Friends and Family Test analysis tool

The NHS has launched an analysis tool to help services make the most of their Friends and Family Test data.

The tool allows users to track changes in feedback over time and view data at different organisational levels. 

A range of simple graphical and tabular presentations have been created to allow users to analyse their response data over time, assess the popularity of various response methods, review the distribution of response data at organisation and ward level across England and revisit their own response data at organisational, site, and ward level.

NHS

Survey: Understanding patient experience during COVID-19

There are just a few days left to complete and share a Patients Association survey on patient experience during COVID-19.

The online survey closes on Monday 17 August.

The Patients Association wants to find out how patients, people with long term conditions and others are experiencing their treatment and care during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Patients Association

Tackling multimorbidity through collaboration

A new action group from the ABPI seeks to bring the NHS, academia and industry together to find new ways to address multimorbidity. 

The Multimorbidity Action Group, which was established to develop policy and move the discussion forward, is now open to join.

pharmphorum

Listen: My Name is Kabir

In this BBC Radio 4 documentary Kabir Hussein shares his experience of being treated for a rare blood disorder as a child.

He discusses the importance of information and explores what can be done to help relieve trauma for children with major illnesses.

BBC

Survey: Patient experience of rapid discharge

Healthwatch is carrying out research into how new rapid discharge arrangements, introduced in response to COVID-19, have worked.

Over a period of four weeks, it is testing whether what is set out in national guidance is being applied and how it is working for patients.

Working with its own network and partners, Healthwatch is aiming to gather stories from more than 1,000 patients, families and carers about their experience.

Click here to complete the patient survey. Click here to complete the carer survey.

Healthwatch

COVID-19 and the digital divide

This article in The Lancet discusses how increased health inequality is an inevitable consequence of COVID-19.

It says, while there is currently no vaccine, digital healthcare technologies have a bearing on the capacity to respond to the disease.

However, the benefits of such technologies are not equitably distributed.

It says the largest effects of digital exclusion on health are the result of difficulty obtaining and acting on information.

The Lancet

Impact of coronavirus on cancer patients

One in three cancer patients say their treatment has been impacted by the effects of COVID-19 on the health system, according to survey results published by Cancer Research UK.

The survey of 1,900 cancer patients was carried out in May.

In the 18 weeks since the start of lockdown, Cancer Research UK estimates around 38,000 fewer treatments have taken place.

Around four in 10 people surveyed said tests, including those to find out whether their cancer had spread or returned, had been affected.

Around two thirds (64%) of patients said the NHS’ ability to support their emotional well-being or their mental health had been impacted. 

Cancer Research UK

Accessing appointments in a digital age

In this blog for NHS Confederation, Andrew Goodall discusses how using digital technology can improve patient experience of hospital and outpatient appointments.

The blog is part of the NHS Reset series – an NHS Confederation campaign to help shape what the health and care system should look like in the aftermath of the pandemic.

NHS Confederation