Acting on the social determinants of health to reduce health inequalities: innovative approaches by provider trusts

UCLPartners – October 2023

This report outlines how four London trusts (Barts Health NHS Trust, East London NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust) are taking action to improve employment, increase income, improve education, and reduce air pollution. The report includes 13 lessons on adopting an innovative approach to tackling the social determinants of health, based on 22 interviews with people leading and implementing these approaches in these organisations. The lessons set out how this work can be implemented, summarising common drivers and incentives, considering how data and expertise can be used, sharing some common conditions for change, and looking ahead to greater scale and impact.

Read the Report – Acting on the social determinants of health to reduce health inequalities: innovative approaches by provider trusts

Destitution in the UK 2023

JRF – 24th Oct 2023

This study, the fourth in the Destitution in the UK series, reveals approximately 3.8 million people experienced destitution in 2022, including around one million children. This is almost two-and-a-half times the number of people in 2017, and nearly triple the number of children. There is an urgent need for action to tackle destitution in the UK.

Read the Report – Destitution in the UK 2023

Targeting Health Inequalities: Realising the potential of targets in reducing health inequalities

A report commissioned by the Health Foundation and produced by the University of Newcastle and University of Strathclyde in partnership with Health Equity North – September 2023

This report makes clear the value of targets and metrics as a central component of a wider mission to galvanise action across government to address the health inequalities that are holding the country back.

Read the Report – Realising the Potential of Targets in Reducing Health Inequalities

Accelerating reform in adult social care in England: priorities for innovation and scaling

Department of Health and Social Care – 24th October 2023

As part of Next Steps to put People at the Heart of Care we announced we were establishing an innovation and improvement unit to develop and define clear priorities for innovation and improvement across adult social care.

As part of the unit, the government is setting out a list of priorities for innovation and scaling in care and support. This document sets out these priorities.

Each priority presents an example of a model or approach which local authorities could adopt, accompanied by a case study.

Accelerating reform in adult social care in England: priorities for innovation and scaling

Learning the Lessons – The Unequal Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Voices of People and Communities

National Voices – September 2023

In April 2023, we held a workshop with members, supported by The Disrupt Foundation, on the unequal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored how communities and groups were affected differently by both the virus itself and the measures brought in to control it.  

Our engagement painted a grim picture of the ways in which the pandemic response exacerbated existing, deep-rooted inequalities across the UK and compounded the disadvantages experienced by people from minoritised communities, by disabled people and by people living with long term conditions. 

Just some examples include people who are immunocompromised, who were asked to go into isolation for huge periods of time and still feel completely overlooked as control measures have been lifted. Or the use of DNRs (Do Not Resuscitate orders) which were disproportionately applied to people with learning disabilities. 

There have already been a range of influential reports, drawing attention to data demonstrating the unequal impacts of the pandemic, and examining their underlying causes. We do not seek to replicate this work, but instead build on it by bringing additional insights from the unique group of individuals and organisations in National Voices’ own network. 

With the Covid-19 Inquiry underway, it is imperative that we capture the lessons learnt from the pandemic, and use them to suggest action for the future. We commend the lessons learned through this work to the Inquiry and hope they will recommend the actions we have identified.  

This small-scale engagement programme enabled enormous insight to be gathered and digested. We have already met with the Inquiry team to support them in their work to engage meaningfully with people and communities most impacted by the pandemic and stand ready to constructively help to take this important work forward. 

Learning the Lessons – The Unequal Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic – Voices of People and Communities

Participation – the NHS working with people and communities

Healthwatch England – October 2023

This briefing shows how engagement and participation with people and communities can deliver real benefits to the health and care system. Participation can be used to describe various forms of activity that enable people and communities to interact with services in ways that influence service planning and delivery. It can include formal consultation focused on specific issues as well as informal interactions with no fixed agenda, and a range of other activities.

At best, it leads to a situation where people’s voices are heard and listened to, enabling them to have a visible impact. Importantly, people will know that they have been listened to and that their views are valued.

These examples, taken from Healthwatch across the country, demonstrate the different ways people can participate with health and care providers, and the benefits both to the people themselves and to services.

Read the Report – Participation – the NHS working with people and communities

Infant and early childhood mental health: the case for action

Royal College of Psychiatrists (2023)

Developed in consultation with parents and more than a dozen charities and other organisations, our landmark report identifies evidence-based interventions that can be provided to babies, under 5s and their families to minimise the risk of lifelong mental health conditions. With half of mental health conditions established by age 14, there is overwhelming evidence for providing support at the earliest opportunity. Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: the case for action makes nine recommendations to bridge the current treatment gap and provides a blueprint on how to deliver a future where fewer young people develop mental health conditions – setting out the required actions needed by government, commissioners and other decision-makers. It also features examples of existing good practice, such as the Wandsworth Early Help: Parental Mental Health Service in South London, Salford Early Help Service and Hertfordshire Community Perinatal Mental Health Service.

Read the Report – Infant and early childhood mental health: the case for action

Reducing the harm from illegal drugs

NAO – October 2023

It is almost two years since the government introduced its latest drugs strategy and less than 18 months remain in the current funding period to March 2025. This report examines whether the government is well positioned to achieve the strategy’s 10-year ambitions. It covers:

• the development of the 2021 drugs strategy, its objectives and funding
• progress in implementing the strategy
• the approach to achieving the strategy’s long-term outcomes

It is too early to conclude whether the 2021 strategy will reduce the harm from illegal drugs. It will take time for new funding and interventions to address a complex set of issues, and many of the indicators used to measure progress lag behind activity. This report therefore assesses whether departments are making the planned progress in implementing the strategy, and whether the JCDU has an effective approach to understanding the impact it is having and managing the risks to achieving the strategy’s aims. It does not examine the effectiveness of interventions at the local level.

Read the Report – Reducing the harm from illegal drugs

Work, health and growth: A guide for local councils

LGA – October 2023

This briefing provides local councillors with a strong business case to improve work and health and economic growth outcomes in their local council. The focus is on supporting people to stay in work; helping people return to work; and helping people who are not in work to find employment.

Further information – Work, health and growth: A guide for local councils

Safety management systems – an introduction for healthcare

Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB)  – 18th October 2023

This report is intended for NHS regulators and all organisations that have regulatory influence, arm’s length bodies, national and regional system quality governance committees/groups, integrated care boards, healthcare organisations, safety and quality professionals, and healthcare professionals. Its aim is to help improve the management of safety. This report may also be of interest to patients and the public. HSSIB is planning to pursue further work that builds on this introduction to safety management systems.

Read the Report – Safety management systems – an introduction for healthcare