Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Louis Appleby Filed Under: Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted:
Reporting the relationship between mental illness and homicide and suicide must be handled sensitively. When it is not, a social media firestorm can follow, explains Professor Louis Appleby. It was about 18 months ago, late at night, when I checked my Twitter timeline for news. What I found took me by surprise. The mental health […]
By Kieran Walshe Filed Under: Devo, Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted:
As we approach the election, the prospect of yet more organisational restructuring for the NHS fills Kieran Walshe with dismay. The next government needs to focus more on changes which make a difference to patients, and which are founded on good evidence about what works. The ability to hold two conflicting positions in your mind […]
By Evangelos Kontopantelis Filed Under: Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted:
Government policy assumed that incentives for general practice through performance-related-pay would improve mortality rates and other outcomes. Its scheme for doing this appears not to have worked as intended, explains Evangelos Kontopantelis. Primary care has enormous potential for improving population health outcomes – including mortality from common chronic conditions – through early intervention in the […]
By Julia Segar, Anna Coleman and Kath Checkland Filed Under: All posts, Devo, Featured Posted:
Devolving health and social care in Greater Manchester is an attractive idea. But will the practical challenges undo it ask Kath Checkland, Julia Segar and Anna Coleman. Devolution has been coming to Greater Manchester (GM) for some time. The recent announcement that the total health and social care budget for GM – £6bn – is […]
By John Read Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Whitehall Watch Posted:
The starting gun for the General Election has been fired, with less than 100 days to go before we vote. But, asks John Read, will the parties have the courage to discuss how future governments will pay for workers’ retirement? Financing the state pensions of the next generation of retired workers is a key challenge […]
By Neil Perkins and Jonathan Hammond Filed Under: Featured Posted:
MPs have just had a bitterly divided debate on what the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership will mean for the NHS. Neil Perkins and Jonathan Hammond consider the evidence. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a trade deal currently being negotiated between the European Union and the United States. If TTIP goes ahead, […]
By Julia Segar Filed Under: All posts, Featured, Westminster Watch Posted:
Clinical Commissioning Groups were introduced by the 2012 Health and Social Care Act. The role of GPs within the NHS and their relationships with NHS managers are changing as a result, explains Julia Segar. The NHS is dealing with severe challenges at present, with A&E in crisis and bed blocking preventing the release of some […]
By Stanley Blue Filed Under: Featured Posted:
The Change4Life campaign just launched by NHS England is the latest attempt to persuade people to adopt healthier lifestyles. But, says Dr Stanley Blue, this type of public health campaign is not enough to tackle fast rising rates of ‘lifestyle diseases’. Current public health policy is focussed on getting people to change their eating, drinking […]
By Barbara Perry Filed Under: Featured Posted:
There is more evidence than needed to prove that many people with learning disabilities are treated badly and without respect in NHS-provided facilities, argues Barbara Perry. A campaign is seeking to provide people with learning disabilities, and their families, with stronger legal rights. Eighteen year old Connor Sparrowhawk was found dead in a bath at Slade […]
By Stephanie Snow Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted:
A new report in the British Medical Journal on centralising acute stroke services in Greater Manchester and London reveals the revolution in stroke care and treatment over the last twenty years – and it contains vital lessons for patients and policymakers, explains Dr Stephanie Snow. Around 152,000 of us will suffer from stroke in the […]