Health and Social Care update from our work as Strategic Partner (SP) to the Department of Health, NHS England and Public Health England.
This month’s update includes reflections on Disability Rights UK’s events and workplan (lead on commissioning ), and on how this will support local user-led organisations and finally news, plans and insights on addressing health inequalities, co-commissioning primary care and focus on people as assets in health and social care.
http://disabilityrightsuk.org/policy-campaigns/health-and-social-care-reforms
We have submitted our workplan for 2014-15 together with our consortium partners Shaping Our Lives and Change and now await approval. Watch this space!
Further news:
Care Act 2014
Care Bill becomes Care Act 2014 Royal Assent has been granted to the Care Bill and as a result it is now the Care Act 2014.
Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb talks about the biggest reforms to the social care system in more than 60 years at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/care-bill-becomes-care-act-2014
Local health professionals get more power to improve NHS primary care
Simon Stevens has announced that local Clinical Commissioning Groups will now have the chance to co-commission primary care in partnership with NHS England. Clinical Commissioning Groups will need to apply, describing the additional powers and responsibilities they would like to assume. Successful applicants will need to meet a number of tests, including showing they will help advance care integration, raise standards and cut health inequalities in primary care.
For more information, go to: http://www.england.nhs.uk/2014/05/01/power-improve-pc/
NHS Health Check up by 9.5% in 2013 to 2014
Latest figures from PHE show that more people than ever are accepting the offer of an NHS Health Check.
The figures show that in the last year over 1.3 million people have accepted the offer which aims to identify those at risk of serious, but potentially avoidable conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. See the full PHE Press Release here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-health-check-up-by-95-in-2013-to-2014
Disability Rights UK has drawn attention to the health inequalities behind the different levels of uptake of NHS health checks. In some local areas we are supporting peer-based initiatives to attract people – particularly men – who are known as difficult to engage in health checks and also cancer screening programmes to name but one other programme.
Launch of the new Health and Care Partnership
The new Health and Care Partnership was launched on 20 April to replace the Department’s National Stakeholder Forum.
For further information, go to: www.gov.uk/government/speeches/launch-of-the-new-health-and-care- partnership
NHS England makes commitment to carers
NHS England, with input from charities and partner organisations, has committed to give carers the recognition and support they need. In its Commitment to Carers document NHS England sets out how it aims to help carers provide better care and to stay well themselves.
To find out more, go to: http://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/commitment- to-carers/
Regional Innovation Fund now available
A Regional Innovation Fund of £2.5 million is now available to promote the adoption of innovation and spread of best practice across the NHS. The fund is open to NHS England, as well as the NHS and Academic Health Science Networks. Bids can be developed alone, or through collaboration with other partners such as providers, local government, the third-sector, private healthcare and industry.
For further information, go to: http://www.england.nhs.uk/2014/05/06/rif-2/
Network Leaders and online community
The third Network Leaders Event took place in March, providing another opportunity to meet up and discuss hot topics and current challenges. Network leaders are any leaders of networks (and voluntary sector organisations) supporting commissioners in their development. At the event attendees discussed CCG and commissioner priorities for the next two years highlighting health inequalities, developing primary care, integrated commissioning, patient and public engagement and avoiding duplication through collaboration with local partners as the key priorities.
To find out about upcoming Network Leaders events, download resources from previous events and connect with other network leaders in a secure space join the Network Leaders community at http://www.community.england.nhs.uk/login.php.
To do this you will need to register your details by clicking ‘Sign up now’ and once registered you will be able to request to join the Network Leaders community.
Mapping Health and Wellbeing Boards’ priorities
An interactive map highlighting the priorities of all Health and Wellbeing Boards across England is now available. By selecting a theme, for example smoking or healthy living, the map will highlight all areas citing it as one of their health and wellbeing priorities. By signposting similar priorities adopted by health and wellbeing boards, opportunities for learning and sharing experience can be identified. By selecting a single area on the map you can view a summary of the local priorities, and access links to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and data reports produced through LG Inform and LG Inform Plus highlighting measures of health and wellbeing for the area.
A link to the latest Health Profile from Public Health England for the area is also provided. http://www.local.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing-boards/-/journal_content/56/10180/6111055/ARTICLE
This map is designed to support health and wellbeing boards by providing a practical tool that stimulates collaboration. Themes and summaries have been developed drawing on the headline priorities as identified in the Public Health England Health Profile 2013 summary for each area. For Directors of Public Health if you would like to provide an updated summary of priorities for your area, or if you want to map to additional or alternative themes within the map or even include a link to your Annual Report, please contact Philippa.lynch@local.gov.uk
New Social Impact Bond Funds for NEETS
The Deputy Prime Minister has launched two new Social Impact Bond Funds for NEETs worth over £30m.
- The Youth Engagement Fund to support young people aged 14-17 to improve their skills and employability
- The Fair Chance Fund to move homeless young people into sustainable accommodation, as well as employment, education or training over 3 years.
To find out more, go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/30-million- boost-to-improve-the-lives-of-britains-most-vulnerable-young-people
Lewisham youth project wins Big Society Award
This month, the Lewisham 10,000 Hands peace campaign won the Prime Minister’s Big Society Award. The campaign is led by young people and aims to create a safer community through social action.
To read more, go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lewisham-peace- campaign-wins-prime-ministers-big-society-award
Supporting Older People and Reducing Pressure on Hospitals
Large numbers of older people find themselves having to go to A&E or being admitted to hospital when it could have been avoided, and many stay longer in hospital than they would like, or are discharged and find themselves being readmitted shortly afterwards. In response, the Cabinet Office and the Tripartite group (NHS England, Monitor, the Trust Development Authority and Association of Directors of Adult Social Care) have launched a new £2 million fund which you can bid into. Through this fund they want to scale up and robustly test social action approaches to keeping older people well or helping them recover quicker when they do have to go to hospital.
The deadline for applications is 13 June 2014.
More information about the fund, including a contact number for questions and dates for workshops with potential bidders, is available at www.sibgroup.org.uk/hospitalfund
Our Voices, Our Choices, Our Freedom
CHANGE and Lumos are organising a national event (Our Voices, Our Choices, Our Freedom) for all people with learning disabilities. This event will take place in Leeds on Thursday 26 June, 10am to 4pm at Shine.
Please find a link below to the booking form for the event: http://www.chagepeople.org/blog-and-news/our-voices-our-choices-national- event/
When you have filled in the form please send it back to us as soon as possible to info@changepeople.org
PHE publishes independent evidence papers on e-cigarettes
Reports commissioned from leading academics examine the evidence on risks and opportunities.
You can see the reports and the full PHE Press Release here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-health-england-publishes-independent-evidence-papers-on-e-cigarettes
Focus on Enforcement review leads to more effective regulation of care homes
The government has welcomed commitments from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to improve regulatory enforcement, in partnership with the adult care sector.
Issuing their full response to the government’s Focus on Enforcement review of the sector – which raised industry concerns about bureaucratic burdens – CQC and the Department of Health have committed to:
- improve the co-ordination of inspection and monitoring visits, reducing unnecessary duplication, whilst still ensuring homes are delivering the required standard of care
- minimise wasteful inconsistency for providers that deal with multiple local authorities. New commissioning standards will help local authorities manage the commissioning of care places
- provide clearer grading of performance; greater recognition for better homes; and more incentive for poorer providers to improve through a new ratings system for the standard of care in homes
- ensure that providers are inspected by individuals who understand how the sector works, by increasing the number of specialist inspectors and strengthening the training arrangements
- support more consistent decision making for providers – by introducing a revised quality assessment framework that will enable inspectors to use their expert judgement within a structured system
- look at ways to help providers better manage their own performance and compliance in line with the requirements of the regulatory system – examining the scope to build independent accreditation into the regulation of the sector
To read more, go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/focus-on-enforcement-review-leads-to-more-effective-regulation-of-care-homes
Blackfriars Consensus Statement calls for new policy focus on brain health to reduce the risk of dementia
Action to tackle smoking, drinking, sedentary behaviour and poor diet could reduce the risk of dementia in later life alongside other conditions such as heart disease, stroke and many cancers, according to the UK Health Forum and PHE in a joint consensus statement.
Fifty-nine organisations and experts from across the dementia and public health community, including practitioners and researchers, have signed the consensus statement. The agreement, known as the Blackfriars Consensus Statement, highlights the need for a new national focus on dementia risk reduction.
The Blackfriars Consensus Statement says that the scientific evidence on dementia risk reduction is evolving rapidly and is now sufficient to justify action to incorporate dementia risk reduction into health policies and to raise wider awareness about which factors can reduce the risk of developing dementia.
See the full PHE Press Release here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/call-for-new-policy-focus-on-brain-health-to-reduce-the-risk-of-dementia
New fund to help VCSE organisations become more sustainable
The Cabinet Office is seeking views on a new £40 million fund to help voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations secure their futures.
To read more and respond to the consultation, go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/new-fund-to-help-vcse-organisations-become-more-sustainable
The deadline for responses is 24 July.
Guidance published on patients’ choice in mental health care
NHS England has published guidance for commissioners, GPs and providers to help them support patients to choose their mental health care. From 1 April 2014 patients with mental health conditions have had the same rights as physical health patients to choose where they have their first outpatient appointment. They are able to choose any clinically appropriate provider in England as long as a CCG or NHS England has a contract with them.
For more information, go to: http://www.england.nhs.uk/2014/05/21/guide-published/