Below you will find links to research and published papers relating to self management of long term conditions, general health management and government policy. To download any of the papers click on the name of the paper below the introduction. All the papers will open as PDF documents, in a new window, you can save the file to your own computer or print it out to read at your leisure. You will not be able to amend any of the documents. If you have any problems opening the files please visit out help pages.
Implementation Science 2011 have published a framework and study protocol for developing self care support authored by: Anne Rogers, Ivaylo Vassilev, Caroline Sanders, Susan Kirk, Carolyn Chew-Graham, Anne Kennedy, Joanne Protheroe, Peter Bower, Christian Blickem, David Reeves, Dharmi Kapadia, Helen Brooks, Catherine Fullwood and Jerry Richardson
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have produced public health guidance on the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus among high-risk groups.
Download the report here- Preventing type 2 diabetes: population and community-level interventions in high-risk groups and the general population
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) have published a briefing on mental health service transition for young people. Key messages include- moving from child and adolescent mental health services to adult services is
difficult for many young people, their parents and carers. Recurrent problems include limited participation of young people, high eligibility thresholds for entry into adult mental health services and inconsistent support during transition leading to some young people ceasing to use services until a crisis occurs.
Download the report here- Mental health service transitions for young people
The commission on management and leadership in the NHS run by The Kings Fund have published their final report.
Download it here- The future of leadership and management in the NHS: No more heroes
On 2 February 2011 the government published No Health Without Mental Health, a cross-government, all-age strategy for mental health in England.
The plan aims to complete the roll-out of improving access to psychological therapies services for adults, and to improve access to talking therapies across a number of groups, including children and young people. This briefing summarises the main points of the plan and outlines the key questions that boards should be asking.
Read the briefing here- Talking therapies: a four-year plan of action
A new report by the Kings Fund illustrates the differences in admission rates for many routine surgical procedures, variations in health care are not limited to relatively rare or new interventions.
This paper explores the possible causes of variation, shows the different ways in which variations can be measured, and analyses variations by PCT in rates of elective hospital admissions for selected procedures
Read the full report- Variations in health care: the good, the bad and the inexplicable
While any service needs to be able to measure outcomes to ensure it delivers returns and results, it often proves difficult for self-management programmes. However, social return on investment calculations can provide an insight into the value these programmes deliver.
The Expert Patients Programme Community Interest Company commissioned some independent research and evaluation, which looked at value from a community perspective rather than solely an NHS service perspective. The study, Healthy Lives Equal Healthy Communities: the social impact of self-management, looked at the wider benefits of self management courses within communities in the north of England. It used social return on investment methodology.
Read the full study: Healthy Lives Equal Healthy Communities - EPPCIC February 2011
This route map is a collaborative effort across the NHS and its partners to describe a sustainable health system and the components that are needed to achieve it. It identifies the areas that require progress in order to save money and resources, improve health and make changes future proof
Read the full document: Route Map for Sustainable Health - The NHS Sustainable Development Unit February 2011
This guide has been developed for practitioners working for councils and public health organisations who have been given the task of evaluating the impact of a project or initiative.
Read the full guide: Measuring Impact in Health Improvement - The Local Government Group - February 2011
This Audit Commission Health briefing examines the local variation and cost of sickness absence to primary care trusts, NHS trusts and foundation trusts. It sets out where organisations can find more help and advice in cutting sickness absence rates. It found that levels of staff sickness absence in the NHS vary dramatically across the country, with the north of England showing the highest levels. By understanding and tackling the factors causing some of this variation, the NHS could increase staff productivity, improve morale and save £290 million
Read the full briefing: Managing Sickness and Absence in the NHS - The Audit Commission February 2011
This research briefing considers what active citizens can do for services and how services can best engage, support and sustain a community or volunteer workforce in order to improve health outcomes. It provides practical guidance on the steps that need to be taken to redesign services and maximise the long term benefits. The research briefing is based on the findings of the ‘People in Public Health’ study, independent research conducted by Leeds Metropolitan University and funded though the National Institute for Health Research Service Delivery and Organisation Programme. The research examined approaches to support members of the public who take on public health roles, with a focus on the Choosing Health priorities.
Read the full briefing: Engaging the public in delivering health
Speaking at the Carers UK national Carers Summit, Care Services Minister, Paul Burstow set out how the coalition government will work with carers and carers' organisations, and how government - local and national - should reciprocate the support carers show with measures that ease the responsibility of caring.
Read the full papers:
Recognised, valued and supported, next steps for the carers strategy
Carers and personalisation- improving outcomes
The coalition governments's white paper sets out the their long-term vision for the future of public health in England. The aim is to create a wellness service (Public Health England) and to strengthen both national and local leadership.
Read the full paper: Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our Strategy for Public Health in England - November 2010
Healthy lives, healthy people: Consultation on the funding and commissioning routes for public health
This consultation explores the proposed funding and commissioning routes for public health, including the ring-fenced budget provided to local authorities. The consultation closes on 31 March 2011, after which a summary of responses received will be published.
Read the consultation document and respond: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_122916
Capturing opinions from the front line. The Inquiry into the Quality of General Practice in England, commissioned by The King’s Fund, has collected and examined evidence on the quality of care and services provided by GPs and other health professionals working in general practice. The work has focused on key aspects of general practice, selected by the inquiry panel as representing core areas for quality improvement.
Read the full paper: The Quality of Care in General Practice - The Kings Fund, October 2010
Using the literature available and EPP CIC's own qualitative data, EPP CIC have been able to provide illustrative examples of how economically beneficial Expert Patients Programmes could be for the NHS. What has also emerged is how effective a targeted approach could be in reducing unplanned hospital admissions and improving people’s quality of life.
Read the full report: Evidence for Health - Health Utilization Report - EPP CIC - June 2010
The White Paper, Liberating the NHS, sets out a vision for an NHS centred around the needs of patients. One of the key features of the plans is to free providers from political interference and to establish a stable, transparent regulatory environment. This document sets out proposals to liberate providers from central Government controls and to develop Monitor as an independent economic regulator for health and adult social care.
Read the full paper: Liberating the NHS - Regulating healthcare providers - July 2010
EPP CIC response to the government white paper, Liberating the NHS, is based on extensive experience of working with people with long-term health conditions who are the greatest users of health related services and long term experience of working with commissioners as a not for profit social enterprise.
Read the full response: Expert Patient Programme CIC White Paper Response - Oct 2010
A clear summary of the government White Paper, created by Sally Cavanagh, QISMET Development Manager.
The new coalition government has, within weeks of formation, published the white paper ‘Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS’ which, if it becomes law, will entail the most fundamental and radical changes to healthcare provision in England since the foundation of the NHS in 1948. This document is a summary of the main themes of the White Paper.
Read the full paper: Summay of NHS White Paper -Sally Cavanagh QISMET Dec 2010
The Nuffield Trust analysis concludes that the Government’s proposed NHS reforms are broadly in the right direction and that they will be a success if they help the NHS to live within tighter resources, while continuing to improve quality and health outcomes. However, the Trust believes that the fast pace of reform carries significant risks, particularly given the constraint on resources for the NHS relative to the recent past.
They conclude that on the basis of national and international research evidence, the reforms need refining if they are to make the most of the opportunities they present.
Read the full response: NHS Resources and Reform: The Nuffield Trust October 2010
The Government has undertaken an extensive process of consultation and engagement around the White Paper proposals. This paper is the Government’s response to those consultations. It reaffirms the Government’s commitment to the White Paper reforms, and shows how they have developed them in the light of consultation. The insights and suggestions they heard in consultation have helped them strengthen our proposals in several areas, including rectifying certain aspects where they realised their original thinking was flawed. Equally important, the responses have also helped them refine their approach to implementation, in order to create flexibility, empower local leadership and support the significant cultural change and staff engagement that respondents highlighted would be needed to make the reforms a success.
Read the full report: Liberating the NHS: Legislative framework and next steps
The Government’s health reform proposals, announced in July 2010, undoubtedly represent the biggest shake-up of the NHS in its history. Radical changes to where power sits in the system are proposed, along with a very different hierarchy and a move to full-blooded market mechanisms with limited, if any, system management. The Government also proposes having a much lighter touch itself in managing both the system and the way the NHS is held to account for its performance.
This report, from the NHS Confederation, sets out the key points from the discussions at the November summit and what was seen as the outstanding issues that the Health and Social Care Bill must address as it enters Parliament. It ends by setting out 12 points for policy-makers to bear in mind to minimise the risks associated with moving to a new system.
Read the full report: Liberating the NHS - What Might Happen? The NHS Confedeartion - November 2010
The rationale for the National Register of Self-Management and the working relationship between EPP CIC and the Department of Health.
Read the full paper: The working Relationship between EPP CIC and the Department of Health
A Department of Health commissioned study into the understanding of self care by the general public. There are various documents to read: an Executive Summary, the Views of the General Public, the Views of People with a Long Term Health Condition and Attachments.
Read the full study:
Self Care A National View, DH Executive Summary
Part One- Views of the General Public
Part Two- Views of People with Long Term Conditions
Part Three - Attachments
This document provides an evidence base on the effectiveness of self care support, such as information, self care support devices, self care skills training and self care support networks in the care of people with long term health conditions, short term ailments and among those taking initiatives to stay healthy.
Read the full research paper: Research Evidence on Effectiveness of Self Care
The Department of Health (DH) has produced a series of 'at a glance' guides for doctors, nurses, those delivering personal health budgets, allied health professionals, health trainers and anyone supporting individuals with long term conditions. The 3 information sheets cover a range of topics including care planning, care co-ordination, managing need and assessment of risk, motivating people to self care, goal setting and action planning and end of life care.
Read the guides:
Care Coordination - DH 2010
Personalised Care Planning - DH 2010
Personalised Care Planning Diagram - DH 2010
This report, from The Policy Exchange, shows how the NHS can save money while also taking better care of one of the UK's fastest-growing diseases - diabetes. The report calls for new business models to be introduced to the NHS in a bid to harness modern technology like insulin pumps and telemonitoring that can help diabetes sufferers stay out of hospital and stop their condition getting worse.
Read the full report: Incentivising wellness - Henry Featherstone & Lilly Whitham Nov 2010
The role of wellbeing and mental health promotion in achieving whole system improvement. This briefing outlines cost-effective evidence based interventions and approaches to promote wellbeing. It will be of interest to all those working at senior level in the NHS, local government and the voluntary sector and in the proposed health and wellbeing boards.
This review, from The King's Fund, of research evidence was commissioned to establish which interventions work in avoiding emergency or unplanned hospital admissions.
This Green Paper outlines plans to "create and promote new opportunities for citizens, communities and public service workers to set local priorities, steer local public spending decisions and deliver services in more targeted and responsive ways”.
Questions focus on how commissioning can be reformed to support the Coalition Agreement commitment to enhance the role of civil society organisations in running public services:
Read the full paper: Modernising Commissioning, Office of Civil Society, December 2010
This briefing reviews primary care trust (PCT) spending in 2009/10, how trust income changed and whether the NHS made progress in becoming more efficient by providing as good or better care more cheaply. It updates More for Less, published in November 2009, which reviewed spendingin 2008/09.
Read the full briefing: More for Less 2009-10, Audit Commission Health Briefing, December 2010
From 1 October 2010, the Equality Act 2010 has replaced major parts of the Disability Discrimination Act across the UK (except in Northern Ireland).
The Act makes it simpler for a person to show that they are disabled and protected from disability discrimination. People no longer have to show that a condition affects a particular function, such as mobility, to qualify for protection from discrimination. The new law also protects peopel from ‘indirect discrimination’ – this is where a policy or practice is applied in the same way to everyone but puts disabled people at a particular disadvantage. In addition, people cannot be discriminated against because of something that results from a disability.
Read the full summary: Equality Act 2010 - Government Equalities Office - Oct 2010
This paper, written by the new Behavioural Insights Team in the Cabinet Office, draws on insights from behavioural science and behavioural economics and shows ways in which health improvements can be made without resorting to legislation or costly programmes. The paper sets out a number of examples where local authorities, charities, government and private sector organisations are developing responses that encourage healthier behaviours.
Read the full paper : Applying Behavioural Insights to Health - The Cabinet Office - Dec 2010