Volunteering in health and care Securing a sustainable future

A report has been published that considers the role and value of volunteers in health and social care. It looks at the important part that volunteers play in improving patient experience, addressing health inequalities, and building a closer relationship between services and communities. It also outlines the changing nature of volunteering, why this can cause tensions, and why volunteering does not always reach its full potential. Examples of good practice in the NHS and voluntary sector illustrate how these barriers can be overcome.

via Management Newsfeed.

This was originally shared by the hardworking staff at East Midlands SHA

COPD Horizon Scanning Volume 5 Issue 2

COPD Horizon Scanning | from the North West PCT Librarians Group.

The latest edition of the COPD Horizon Scanning is out and available. Produced by NHS Libraries North West, Horizon Scanning is : “Bringing together best practice, innovation and future risks to support the commissioning process and service redesign.

CCGs will need to improve commissioning of mental health services, says health department | BMJ

The new doctor led clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will be expected to improve the quality of commissioning of mental health services in England and to improve on current standards, MPs have been told.

via CCGs will need to improve commissioning of mental health services, says health department | BMJ.

An NHS Athens account may be required to view this article in full. 

Boltons Health Matters Information Consultancy Evidence Summary – The effects of Morphine on COPD: A Primary Evidence Scoping Snapshot

The effects of Morphine on COPD: A Primary Evidence Scoping Snapshot

An evidence summary produced by Amy Finnegan on behalf on the Bolton’s Health Matters team. Please click on the link to view. This is an original piece of work. Please contact the library if you wish to re-use in any format.

NHS spending on independent services is up by more than 10% | BMJ

Primary care trusts in England spent 10.7% more on services commissioned from independent healthcare providers in 2011-12 than in the previous year, new data show. This compares with a 3.5% rise in total healthcare spending.

via NHS spending on independent services is up by more than 10% | BMJ.

An NHS Athens account may be required to view this article in full. 

Guidance for local authority charging on public health activity | Department of Health

Guidance published contains information on what health improvement activity local authorities can charge for and what services must be free at the point of use, just as they were when provided by the NHS. This is for local authority charging for public health activity.

via Guidance for local authority charging on public health activity | Department of Health.

Promotion of physical activity and fitness in sedentary patients with Parkinson’s disease: randomised controlled trial | BMJ

Promotion of physical activity and fitness in sedentary patients with Parkinson’s disease: randomised controlled trial | BMJ.

An NHS Athens account may be required to view this article in full. 

Abstract
Objective To evaluate whether a multifaceted behavioural change programme increases physical activities in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Tougher action is needed on alcohol pricing, labelling, and advertisements, say experts | BMJ

More than 70 health organisations have backed a call for tougher action to tackle the problems caused by excessive drinking in the United Kingdom, including targets to reduce the amount of alcohol that adults drink and to reduce the number of deaths from liver disease.

via Tougher action is needed on alcohol pricing, labelling, and advertisements, say experts | BMJ.

An NHS Athens account may be required to view this article in full. 

Nine out of 10 palliative care experts would choose Liverpool care pathway for themselves | BMJ

The Liverpool care pathway represents best practice for the care of dying patients, according to 89% of UK palliative medicine consultants in an online survey by the BMJ and Channel 4’s Dispatches programme

via Nine out of 10 palliative care experts would choose Liverpool care pathway for themselves | BMJ.

An NHS Athens account may be required to view this article in full. 

WHO is urged to exclude alcohol industry from talks on reducing harms | BMJ

A group of public health professionals from around the world is urging the World Health Organization to stop the alcohol industry influencing its strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol.

via WHO is urged to exclude alcohol industry from talks on reducing harms | BMJ.

An NHS Athens account may be required to view this article in full. 

Results of the 2012 NHS staff survey published | Department of Health

The results of the 2012 NHS staff survey have been published today. A total of 202,000 NHS staff were invited to participate by postal questionnaire. Responses were received from 101,000 staff, a response rate of 50% (compared to 53.7% in 2010).

via Results of the 2012 NHS staff survey published | Department of Health.

Child Health Horizon Scanning Volume 2 Issue 3

Child Health Horizon Scanning | from Library and Information Health Network North West (LIHNN).

The latest edition of the Child Health Horizon Scanning is out and available. Produced by NHS Libraries North West, Horizon Scanning is : “Bringing together best practice, innovation and future risks to support the commissioning process and service redesign.

NHS Bolton Library to Close

NHS Bolton Library will close its physical space on March 28th 2013. We shall be focusing on electronic delivery of evidence provision as well as delivery of health promotion resources.

The evidence provision services (such as this blog) will still remain.

 

More details will follow.

Boltons Health Matters Information Consultancy Evidence Summary – Dietary Supplements for Physical Wellbeing – An Evidence Snapshot

Boltons Health Matters Information Consultancy Evidence Summary – Dietary Supplements for Physical Wellbeing – Evidence Snapshot

An evidence summary produced by Bolton’s Health Matters. Please click on the link to view. This is an original piece of work. Please contact the library if you wish to re-use in any format.

Invasive pneumococcal disease and socioeco-nomic deprivation: a population study from the North East of England

Invasive pneumococcal disease and socioeconomic deprivation: a population study from the North East of England.

For a full copy of the article please contact the library.
Background Some communicable diseases disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable groups. Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality; however, the relationship between IPD and deprivation has not been well described.

Children and Families Bill 2012-13 — UK Parliament

To make provision about children, families, and people with special educational needs; to make provision about the right to request flexible working; and for connected purposes

via Children and Families Bill 2012-13 — UK Parliament.

BBC News – Level of excess drinking of alcohol ‘is underestimated’

Level of excess drinking of alcohol ‘is underestimated’

via BBC News – Level of excess drinking of alcohol ‘is underestimated’.

The full report can be accessed by clicking here: http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/eurpub

School closures and influenza: systematic review of epidemiological studies -BMJ Open

School closures and influenza: systematic review of epidemiological studies — Jackson et al. 3 (2) — BMJ Open.
This article is available freely via Open Access. Please click on the above link to view it fully.

Abstract
Objective To review the effects of school closures on pandemic and seasonal influenza outbreaks.

Community services to be focus of extended competition | Health Service Journal

Community services worth billions of pounds are likely to be made subject to increased competition by guidance to be developed under controversial new secondary legislation, HSJ has learned.

via Community services to be focus of extended competition | News | Health Service Journal.

This article is solely the work of the HSJ. For a full copy of the article please contact the library.

DH opens door to NHS pension for private sector | Health Service Journal

Private companies providing NHS services are being allowed access to the NHS pension scheme ahead of anticipated Treasury action to widen eligibility, HSJ has learned.

via DH opens door to NHS pension for private sector | News | Health Service Journal.

This article is solely the work of the HSJ. For a full copy of the article please contact the library.

NICE recommends new treatment option for people with common heart condition

In final guidance published today (27 February) NICE has recommended apixaban (Eliquis, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer), in accordance with its licensed indications, as an option for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in some people with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. The guidance also recommends that the decision about whether to start treatment with apixiban should be made after an informed discussion about the risks and benefits of apixaban compared with warfarin, dabigatran etexilate and rivaroxaban, and in light of a person’s current level of international normalised ratioi (INR) control if they are already taking warfarin.

via NICE recommends new treatment option for people with common heart condition.

CCGs warn they risk being ‘saddled with inherited debt’ | Health Service Journal

Clinical commissioning groups have warned they are at risk of being “saddled with an inherited debt” when they take on their new powers, as a result of an onslaught of retrospective claims for NHS continuing healthcare funding.

via CCGs warn they risk being ‘saddled with inherited debt’ | News | Health Service Journal.

This article is solely the work of the HSJ. For a full copy of the article please contact the library.

Obesity Horizon Scanning Volume 5 Issue 1

Obesity Horizon Scanning | from the North West PCT Librarians Group.

The latest edition of the Obesity Horizon Scanning is out and available. Produced by NHS Libraries North West, Horizon Scanning is : “Bringing together best practice, innovation and future risks to support the commissioning process and service redesign.

 

BBC News – Dementia ‘affects 80% of care home residents’

More than 320,000 of the 400,000 people living in care homes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland now have dementia or severe memory problems, the Alzheimer’s Society charity estimates.

via BBC News – Dementia ‘affects 80% of care home residents’.

The report from the Alzheimer’s Society can be viewed in full by clicking here: http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/lowexpectations

BBC News – Bad sleep ‘dramatically’ alters body

A run of poor sleep can have a potentially profound effect on the internal workings of the human body, say UK researchers.

via BBC News – Bad sleep ‘dramatically’ alters body.

Analysed: The continuing care claims deluge | Health Service Journal

This week’s HSJ Briefing examines the impact of a “deluge” of retrospective continuing healthcare claims which has left PCTs with a possible £600m bill and is causing anxiety for CCGs

via Analysed: The continuing care claims deluge | News | Health Service Journal.

This article is solely the work of the HSJ. For a full copy of the article please contact the library.

Cardiovascular Horizon Scanning Volume 5 Issue 2

Cardiovascular Horizon Scanning | from the North West PCT Librarians Group.

The latest edition of the Cardiovascular Horizon Scanning is out and available. Produced by NHS Libraries North West, Horizon Scanning is : “Bringing together best practice, innovation and future risks to support the commissioning process and service redesign.

Vast majority of NHS services must go out to tender, health minister says | BMJ

The UK government has come under fire after publishing legislation this month that compels the new clinical commissioning groups in England to place the bulk of NHS services on the open market.

An NHS Athens account may be required to view this article in full. 

via Vast majority of NHS services must go out to tender, health minister says | BMJ.

Effect of telehealth on quality of life and psychological outcomes over 12 months (Whole Systems Demonstrator telehealth questionnaire study): nested study of patient reported outcomes in a pragmatic, cluster randomised controlled trial | BMJ

Effect of telehealth on quality of life and psychological outcomes over 12 months (Whole Systems Demonstrator telehealth questionnaire study): nested study of patient reported outcomes in a pragmatic, cluster randomised controlled trial | BMJ.

An NHS Athens account may be required to view this article in full. 

Abstract
Objective To assess the effect of second generation, home based telehealth on health related quality of life, anxiety, and depressive symptoms over 12 months in patients with long term conditions.

Influence of initial severity of depression on effectiveness of low intensity interventions: meta-analysis of individual patient data | BMJ

Influence of initial severity of depression on effectiveness of low intensity interventions: meta-analysis of individual patient data | BMJ.
An NHS Athens account may be required to view this article in full.

Abstract
Objective To assess how initial severity of depression affects the benefit derived from low intensity interventions for depression.