The future of public health: the NIHP and other public health functions: Policy paper

The future of public health: the NIHP and other public health functions
DHSC 15 September 2020

• This Policy paper sets out the government's plans for protecting and improving the public's health, including the creation of the National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP). It describes the responsibilities and transfer of functions to the NIHP, the future of health improvement, prevention and wider PHE functions and transition to new structures and a timeline.

Independent evaluation of progress on Government commitments

Independent evaluation of progress on Government commitments
Health Select Committee 5 August 2020

• The HSC have set out a CQC-style process for a select committee-led independent evaluation of progress on Government commitments in health and social care, designed to develop and enhance that core task of holding the Government to account. The first policy area to be evaluated is Maternity services.

Evidence-Based Interventions Programme

Evidence-based interventions Wave 2
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges 13 July 2020

• Recommendations from Wave 2 of the Evidence-Based Interventions programme includes 31 tests, treatments and procedures which should only be used in specific, limited circumstances. A six-week engagement process ends 24 August 2020. See the Engagement document here.

Evidence-Based Interventions Programme
NHS England 29 November 2018

• The aim of the Evidence-Based Interventions programme is to prevent avoidable harm to patients, to avoid unnecessary operations, and to free up clinical time by only offering interventions on the NHS that are evidence-based and appropriate.
• The Programme is focused on items that should not be routinely prescribed in primary care. The programme targeting 17 interventions that fall in to this category. Four that should not be routinely offered to patients unless there are exceptional circumstances and 13 interventions that should only be offered to patients when certain clinical criteria are met.

Includes:
Evidence-Based Interventions: Guidance for CCGs
NHS England 29 November 2018

• This guidance document is for CCGs, to assist them in fulfilling their duties relating to securing continuous improvements in the quality of services for patients and in outcomes, particularly regarding appropriate clinical interventions.
• In addition to publishing statutory guidance under Section 14Z8 of the NHS Act 2006, NHS England are mandating compliance to the Evidence-Based Interventions programme through the NHS Standard Contract.

What have the parties pledged on health and care?

What have the parties pledged on health and care?
Kings Fund 28 November 2019

• A summary of the manifesto commitments of the three main parties for the NHS, social care and public health.

Elective care: model access policy from NHS Improvement

Elective care: model access policy
NHS Improvement 18 August 2017 updated 24 January 2019

• The purpose of this policy is to ensure all patients requiring access to outpatient appointments, diagnostics and elective inpatient or day-case treatment are managed in line with national waiting time standards and the NHS Constitution. 
• Includes general principles, pathway-specific principles referral to treatment and diagnostic pathways (including, Consultant to consultant referrals, Clinical assessment and triage services (CATS) and referral management centres (RMCs)) and Cancer pathways.

NHS Long Term Plan

NHS Long Term Plan https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/
NHS England 7 January 2019
“how the NHS will move to a new service model in which patients get more options, better support, and properly joined-up care at the right time in the optimal care setting.”
The Long Term Plan contains aspirations, commitments, milestones and priorities for the NHS across the next ten years. It includes:

• A new service model for the NHS aims to increase primary and community based care, reduce emergency care in hospital, increase personalised care, increase use of digital technology and develop Integrated Care Systems (ICS) to support population health management.
• A renewed NHS prevention programme will prioritise smoking, poor diet, high blood pressure, obesity, and alcohol and drug use. In addition there will be a concerted and systematic approach to reducing health inequalities and addressing unwarranted variation in care.
• New and revised care quality and outcomes measures are presented relating to health and wellbeing of children and young people, maternity and neonatal services, learning disabilities and a number of major health conditions (cancer, cardiovascular disease and stroke (inc diabetes), respiratory conditions, dementias, and self-harm).
• A new Workforce Implementation Plan will underpin workforce development.
• The Plan places a strong emphasis on the upgrade and development of digital technology across the NHS.
• The Plan lays out five tests for NHS financial architecture, payment systems and incentives.
• There are a number of case studies demonstrating models and approaches outlined in the Plan.

Kings Fund : The NHS long-term plan:five things you need to know
Health London Partnership : The NHS Long Term Plan in summary

HSJ coverage here. [subscription required]

Read Cowper’s Cut: A brief history of NHS plans (HSJ 7 Jan 2019, subscription required) for a brief history of previous plans for the NHS.

Prevention is better than cure: Vision for prevention

Prevention is better than cure: our vision to help you live well for longer
DHSC 5 November 2018

• The document sets out the government’s vision for:
• stopping health problems from arising in the first place
• supporting people to manage their health problems when they do arise
• The goal is to improve healthy life expectancy by at least 5 extra years, by 2035, and to close the gap between the richest and poorest.
• A collection of case studies has been published, showing examples of good practice in preventing health problems from happening.

Read Matt Hancock's speech to the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI) when he launched the policy.

Mechanisms and tools for use of health information for decision-making

Evidence on mechanisms and tools for use of health information for decision-making
WHO 2017

• An examination of the tools and mechanisms that can help to increase the use of health information in policy development. 
• It discusses
• packaging tools, including synthesis and visualization tools;
• application tools, including modelling and simulation;
• dissemination and communication tools such as electronic, automated and person-to-person dissemination methods; and
• linkage and exchange tools, including knowledge platforms and brokering.
• "The most effective use of health information is when all stakeholders interact and communicate to ensure the best available evidence is used to support choice of policy options."

The structure of the NHS in England

The structure of the NHS in England
House of Commons Library briefing 9 June 2017

• This briefing provides an overview of the funding and accountability relationships within this NHS in England, and an introduction to the roles of key organisations including NHS England, NHS Improvement and the Care Quality Commission. It also highlights some key health policy issues, including patient safety, funding, and the integration of health and social care.

Healthy commissioning: How the Social Value Act is being used by CCGs

Healthy commissioning: How the Social Value Act is being used by Clinical Commissioning Groups
National Voices and Social Enterprise UK 30 May 2017

• Analysis of findings based on FOI requests to CCGs (n=191) to assess their use of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. Findings include:
• 13% of CCGs can demonstrate active commitment to pursuing social value in their procurement and commissioning decisions; 
• 43% had no policy / were not aware of a policy or had a policy in development; 
• 13% of CCGs demonstrated ‘highly committed, evidenced and active’ use of the Social Value Act. 
• Weighting procurement for social value is limited and a pass/fail question or a weighting of 2% of the total evaluation was common. 
• 13% of STPs mention social value.
• Recommendations include building social value into NHS England’s Right Care programme, joint guidance on implementation of the Social Value Act and closer working between the voluntary sector and NHS organisations to deliver greater social value.

Health and Social Care Integration - policy and debate

Health and Social Care Integration (England)
House of Commons Library Research Briefing 24 February 2017

• Analyses of recent policy and debate on the integration of NHS-provided healthcare and local authority-provided social care.

Brexit: the next steps for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU

Brexit: the next steps for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU
House of Commons Library

• The resource sets out research on the impact of Brexit on key policy areas and explains the process for leaving the EU.

Better outcomes by 2020; PHE strategic plan

Strategic plan for the next four years: better outcomes by 2020
PHE 13 April 2016

• The Public Health England (PHE) Strategic Plan sets out how the organisation intends to protect and improve the public’s health and reduce inequalities over the next 4 years. It also outlines actions PHE will take over the next year to achieve these aims and deliver its core functions.
• It builds on the Department of Health’s Shared Delivery Plan, the NHS 5 Year Forward View, and From Evidence into Action. 

CCG Fair Processing Notices

Fair Processing for CCGs
HSCIC

• CCG requests for data containing an identifier (e.g. NHS number), as opposed to non-identifiable data, must contain a hyperlink to the CCG's fair processing notice/privacy notice on its website.
• This article outlines the points which should be included in a fair processing notice.

NHS England patient and Public Participation policy and standards

Strengthening Patient and Public Participation in the work of NHS England
NHS England Board meeting Item 4, 20 November 2015

• Publication of an over-arching NHS England policy for the public and for NHS England staff, to show why participation matters, and to outline NHS England responsibilities, principles and approach.
• Detailed and bespoke frameworks for participation in other areas of NHS England responsibility including primary care will be published end of March 2016.
• Includes a recommended patient and public participation 10 point action plan (and timescales).
• The paper includes the following in full:
• NHS England Patient and Public Participation Policy (including Ladder of Engagement & participation and Engagement Cycle.)
• NHS England Statement of Arrangements and Guidance on Patient and Public Participation in Commissioning.

Overview of waiting time and patient choice policies

NHS maximum waiting times and patient choice policies
House of Commons Library Briefing, 16 September 2015

• Maximum waiting times
• Patient rights to maximum waiting times
• Pledges on waiting times
• Mental health services
• GP appointments
• New cancer waiting time commitments
• Patient choice
• Shared decision making
• Choice of provider 
• Transferring to a different hospital
• Seeking a second opinion
• GP services
• Personal health budgets
• Mental health services
• Treatment in another European Economic Area country
• http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7171 

7 day services - why and how

7-day NHS services: a factsheet (Policy)
DH 24 July 2015

• An outline of why consistent 7-day services in the NHS are needed and new proposals for action during the current parliament.

Disposal of information policy

Information management policy: retention and destruction
Department of Health 27 July 2015

• A description of how the Department of Health handles information in all digital and printed formats and makes decisions around how and when information is disposed.
• The document can be used by DH arm’s length bodies if they have not developed their own policy and can also be used by someone considering making a Freedom of Information request.