The road to renewal: five priorities for health and care

The King's Fund has published a new report identifying priorities for the renewal of the health and social care system after the first peak of COVID-19. 

The road to renewal says, alongside recovery of core services, lessons need to be learned to ensure the health and social care system can drive the greatest possible improvements in health and wellbeing over the coming years.  

It identifies five key priorities to help this happen:

  • A step change on inequalities and population health
  • Lasting reform for social care
  • Putting the workforce centre stage
  • Embedding and accelerating digital change
  • Reshaping the relationship between communities and public services

The report also outlines potential pitfalls to avoid, including 'overly ambitious' attempts at system-wide structural reform.

The King's Fund

Survey reveals impact of coronavirus on young carers

A survey by Carers Trust Scotland has revealed the impact of coronavirus on young carers and young adult carers in the country.

It found coronavirus increases pressure on young carers (aged 12 to 17) and young adult carers (aged 18 to 25) which is negatively impacting their mental health.

Headline figures from the survey, which received 214 responses from across Scotland, include: 

  • 45% of young carers and 68% of young adult carers say their mental health is worse since coronavirus
  • 71% of young carers and 85% of young adult carers are more worried about the future
  • 69% of young carers and 76% of young adult carers are feeling more stressed
  • 74% of young carers and 73% of young adult carers are feeling less connected to others

Based on the survey findings, Carers Trust Scotland is calling for mental health support for young carers to be given greater priority and greater support from education providers and employers to help them juggle their roles.

Carers Trust Scotland

Fighting an epidemic of misinformation

This article by Andrew Czyzewski for Imperial College London discusses the importance of science and learning while dealing with coronavirus.

It outlines the history of misinformation in epidemiology and the difficulties of discerning fact from fiction when the public is presented with various sources of information.

Andrew says, in the absence of a vaccine or validated antiviral treatments, information and public health measures are the only tools at our disposal to stop transmission of the virus.

Imperial College London

COVID-19 information for people of colour

Community-led platform Spark & Co. has created a COVID-19 resource hub specifically for people of colour.

It includes curated links to organisations and information designed to help those from black, Asian and ethnic minority communities.

The information is grouped into several key areas including faith-based support, mental health and wellbeing, physical health and wellbeing and grants, hardship and debt support.

The hub is also open to new submissions.

Spark & Co.

Rebooting the healthcare system post-COVID-19

In this pharmaphorum article, Janssen’s Iris Zemzoum looks at seven ways the healthcare and pharma sectors need to change in the wake of COVID-19.

It highlights the importance of building trust with patients and ensuring they can find reliable and readily accessible information on their own.

pharmaphorum

Wearing a mask if you have a lung condition

The European Lung Foundation has created a new resource with information on wearing a mask or face covering for people with a lung condition.

The resource page was created following questions from people with lung conditions.

It aims to answer some of the most common concerns and questions.

European Lung Foundation

Sharing stories of the pandemic

The Royal Osteoporosis Society is asking people to share their stories of managing osteoporosis and bone health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Because face-to-face support is limited at the moment, the society wants to build a library of real life stories to help reassure people going through similar experiences.

The stories will also help inform new information.

Royal Osteoporosis Society

The Brain Tumour Patients' Charter of Rights

The International Brain Tumour Alliance has published a Patients' Charter of Rights to address brain tumour inequalities across countries.

The charter, which was developed in collaboration with several other patient advocacy groups, emphasises the importance of information and education.

It also says a person with a brain tumour should be 'respected as a significant partner' in their own care and have access to decision-making tools.

A charter toolkit is also available to help stakeholders apply elements of the charter and raise awareness.

International Brain Tumour Alliance

Consultation: Social prescribing approaches for migrants

Public Health England is conducting an evidence review on social prescribing approaches for migrant populations in England.

To complement this review, held in collaboration with University College London and International Organization for Migration, PHE is inviting stakeholders to submit research data or reports on two key areas:

  • Collations of migrants’ lived experiences after a social prescribing referral and its impact on their physical and mental health and wellbeing and changes in healthcare utilisation in the UK
  • Effectiveness of current examples of social prescribing models for migrants and their impact on their physical and mental health and wellbeing and changes in healthcare utilisation 

The consultation closes at 5.30pm on 30 October 2020.

GOV.UK

Study: Public perception of artificial intelligence in medical care

A study has revealed generally positive attitudes to the use of artificial intelligence in medical care but there are still concerns about a lack of trust and humanistic care.

The study explored the public perception of AI in medical care through a content analysis of social media data.

This included specific topics the public is concerned about; public attitudes toward AI in medical care and the reasons for them; and public opinion on whether AI can replace human doctors.

Out of 956 posts where public attitudes were expressed, 59.4%, 34.4% and 6.2% of the posts expressed positive, neutral, and negative attitudes, respectively.

Immaturity of AI technology and a distrust of related companies were the two main reasons for negative attitudes. 

JMIR

GSK IMPACT Awards open for applications

The King's Fund has opened applications for the 2021 GSK IMPACT Awards.

The awards provide core funding and free training for charities working to improve people’s health in the UK. 

Up to 20 awards will be made, ranging from £3,000 to £40,000, plus free training and development valued at a further £9,500. 

Organisations will also have a film made, receive help with press and publicity, and be given a set of promotional materials.

For more information on how to apply, click on the link below.

The King's Fund

HSJ Awards ceremony moved

The HSJ Awards, set to be held later this year, have now been moved to 17 March 2021.

The move comes following an application deadline extension announced last month.

It will be the first time the awards have missed a year since launching in 1981.

For a new list of key dates, click on the link below.

HSJ Awards