In a recent clip widely shared on social media, Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis highlighted the inequalities at the heart of the current COVID-19 emergency, describing it as “a public health issue with huge ramifications for social welfare and a social welfare issue with huge ramifications for public health”. Here, Dr Bella Starling, Professor Arpana Verma and […]
In the rush to implement Integrated Care Systems, don’t forget Health and Wellbeing Boards
In the context of the changes set out in the recent NHS long term plan (2019), Dr Anna Coleman draws our attention to the recently published LGA report which highlights some of the good work that Health and Wellbeing Boards have been undertaking since they were introduced in 2013. She suggests the new place-based system of […]
Maximising the potential of new non-medical professional roles in general practice: Lessons from Greater Manchester
Increased patient demand and GP shortages have led to widespread strain on primary health services. In particular, GPs struggle in their unique roles as both expert medical generalists and holistic providers of patient-centred care. A greater ‘skill-mix’ for the coordination and delivery of care has been introduced, in order to ease capacity and widen support […]
Maximising opportunities to engage healthcare professionals in public health policy
‘Prevention’ continues to grow as a focus of public health policy, seeking to enhance general well-being across a population and to avoid the potential future costs of treatment for avoidable conditions. Here, Chris Keyworth discusses one of the NHS’ flagship prevention initiatives, ‘Making Every Contact Count’. Making Every Contact Count has been designed to form […]
Integrating community pharmacy services in primary care: making better use of our healthcare venues
The recently launched ‘NHS Long Term Plan’ proposes to make better use of community pharmacists’ skills and explore further efficiencies in community pharmacy in new primary care networks. In this blog, Ali Hindi, Ellen Schafheutle and Sally Jacobs highlight important factors for enhancing the use of community pharmacy services within primary care for patients with […]
Commissioning for quality in community pharmacy: towards a better understanding of private sector providers of healthcare
As a scheme has recently been implemented to incentivise quality in community pharmacy, Sally Jacobs and Ellen Schafheutle discuss the need for further research to inform the development of quality indicators. The role of the private sector in the NHS has expanded over the last 30 years to increase services and reduce costs. This has […]
Research that saves lives: suicide prevention in action
Every death by suicide is a shocking event, with wide-reaching consequences for loved ones, communities, and front-line professionals. Suicide prevention is a recognised health priority in England, and in early 2018, the Department for Health and Social Care, Public health England (PHE), and NHS England announced a three-year investment worth £25 million to support a […]
Opportunities to improve the management of wound care in the NHS
The management and care of wounds is a complex aspect of our healthcare system, with implications for primary, secondary, and community care, as well as having a significant impact on both expenditures and outcomes. Here, Paul Wilson of the NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care Greater Manchester (CLARHRC GM) introduces the issue […]
Beyond the parish pump… what next for public health?
Alex Hall, Research Associate at the University of Manchester, draws on a three-year study by the Health Policy, Politics and Organisations (HiPPO) Group into the impacts of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 upon commissioning of health services, to explore the significance of the Act for public health’s professional identity. The Health and […]
Brexit risks supply problems for nuclear medicine
As the UK moves towards the intended ‘exit day’ of March 29th, 2019, some of the details of the foreseen – and unforeseen – consequences of Brexit are becoming clearer. One of these is the UK Government’s stated aim to withdraw from Euratom, and the likely effects or otherwise of Brexit upon medical isotope supply. […]