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These frequently asked questions for elected members have been jointly produced by LGA and Public Health England. They address a number of transitional issues relating to the transfer of responsibility for delivering the National Child Measurement Programme, which moved from PCTs to local government in April 2013.

• Briefing
• LGA - publications

Debates on protection of the NHS budget and medical leadership continue, and the rest of today’s news

Debates on protection of the NHS budget and medical leadership continue, and the rest of today’s news

The debate on protection of the NHS budget continues, best practice on modernising care pathways, and the rest of today’s news

Modernising care pathways and the rest of today’s news

Following research published by IRISS which highlighted that, despite the fact that less than one in every two surveyed carers accessed short breaks, they were considered fundamental to help alleviate the physical and emotional demands of caring, to sustain the caring relationship and to prevent admission to residential care. This case study describes how Falkirk Council embarked on a process of understanding how they could improve the short break experience for carers.

• Case study
• Original study

This briefing draws on evidence in relation to advocacy with both children and adults and on literature from the fields of health and social care.  It outlines the key elements of the most prevalent models of advocacy and identifies good practice, as well as the limitations of advocacy models.  It aims to provide an overview of the evidence base of what works in relation to advocacy provision.

• Briefing
• IRISS - publications

This case study describes a programme which aims to demonstrate how strengthening local health IT infrastructure can support improvements in the quality and efficiency of health care. It sponsors a learning collaborative and coaching for 51 primary care practices in seven predominantly rural Colorado counties, helping them to build capacity for using electronic health records and analytic tools and for engaging in team-based quality measurement and improvement. The region’s experience with health IT also offers insights on how community stakeholders can help spread health information exchange to improve care coordination among local "medical neighborhoods" of health care providers. Early results indicate increased provision of preventive and chronic care, improved workflow and teamwork in physician practices, and enhanced capability to prepare for health care delivery and payment reforms.

• Case study
• The Commonwealth Fund - publications

This guidance aims to highlight key areas for commissioners to address as local strategies are developed and services commissioned, including: inappropriate A&E attendances; prenatal and adolescent mental health issues; neonatal feeding problems; children with chronic and long term illness; school issues; and safeguarding and the needs of looked after children. It also places strong emphasis on accountability, encouraging all stakeholders to take responsibility for local care through an agreed annual delivery plan within key delivery areas.

• Guidance
• RCGP - news

NHS England is to conduct an urgent review of the sustainability of NHS 111 and the market of providers as the timetable for full national roll-out of the service slips further.

More than 10,000 NHS staff have been made redundant in the past three financial years as a result of the government’s commissioning reforms, according to official figures published today.

More than 10,000 NHS staff have been made redundant in the past three financial years as a result of the government’s commissioning reforms, according to official figures published today.

Campaigners have highlighted a new pricelist for health and care information, and raised fresh concerns about the sale of “sensitive” and “identifiable” patient data.

This report describes the key benefits of design thinking for governments across the European Union (EU). It aims to promote design-led techniques for use across the EU as a means of staying competitive and creating sustainable and flourishing societies. It includes case studies which illustrate the benefits of a design-led approach and uses a case of systemic change in reducing violence and aggression in A&E services.

• Report
• Design Council - project

This publication reports on the movement of staff as a result of changes to the health and care system. It includes details of people who have moved to new roles in health and care, people who have left the system and people who have been made redundant. It also reports on the transition's impact on the equality profile of staff in organisations which have closed.

• Report
• Department of Health - news

The adult social care outcomes framework has been updated for 2013-14 and it sets out the indicators for measuring adult social care outcomes.

• Framework
• Equality analysis
• Handbook of definitions
• Department of Health - news

WORKFORCE: Commissioners in London have agreed to invest an additional £15m in London Ambulance Service due to rising demand, just two years after the trust announced plans to shed almost 900 posts.

This report looks at how complaints could help to transform public services and whether complaints could potentially lead to innovation. It investigates to what extent complaints help public services to adapt to today's rising and complex demands. It also asks how public services could use complaints to listen and engage with the public as co-producers of better outcomes.

• Report
• Nesta - publications

This document sets out the GMC's response to the Health Select Committee's scrutiny of their work in their accountability report published in December 2012. It outlines, in particular, the GMC's position on professional regulation in light of the publication of the Francis Inquiry report on the failings at Mid-Staffordshire.

• Report
• House of Commons - publications

This report uncovers major disparities across the UK in access to MS medicines, social care support, employment support and health professionals for people with MS. The findings are based on a survey issued last year asking people with MS what services they needed and to what extent those needs had been met over the previous 12 months. More than 10,500 adults responded – the largest ever survey of people with MS in the UK. 

• Report
• Infographics
• Multiple Sclerosis Society - news