Patients in long-stay hospitals being neglected in policy and practice, says Centre for Mental Health

People with long-term mental health needs are facing stays of many years in inpatient services because of a lack of community services to help them to recover, according to a briefing paper published today by Centre for Mental Health. See paper here

Report shows prevalence of key conditions across England

Figures released by NHS Digital provide information on the prevalence of 21 conditions, including asthma, hypertension, dementia, diabetes, and depression.

The annual report, Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) - Prevalence, Achievements and Exceptions Report, England 2016-17 also identifies how the prevalence of these conditions has changed since the previous year.

Noncommunicable Diseases Progress Monitor 2017

This WHO report outlines progress made by WHO member states against globally agreed targets to control long-term conditions and chronic diseases. It finds that whilst the United Kingdom has fully achieved on many targets in relation to smoking and unhealthy diets, there is still progress to be made on reduction measures on harmful use of alcohol.

Quality of life measures predict cardiovascular health and physical performance in chronic renal failure patients

PLoS One; San Francisco12.9 (Sep 2017): e0183926.

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience complex functional and structural changes of the cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal system. This results in reduced exercise tolerance, quality of life and ultimately premature death. We investigated the relationship between subjective measures of health related quality of life and objective, standardised functional measures for cardiovascular and pulmonary health.

In CKD and HTN, objective physical performance has a significant effect on quality of life; particularly self-reported physical health and functioning. Therefore, these quality of life measures are indeed a good reflection of physical health correlating highly with objective physical performance measures.

UHCW Research: A. Rogan, K. McCarthy, C. McGregor, G. Evans, S. Hewins, N. Aldridge, S. Fletcher, N. Krishnan and R. Higgins

Health Secretary challenges NHS to deliver digital services nationwide

By the end of 2018 – the 70th birthday year of the NHS – the Health Secretary said he expects every patient in England to be able to do the following online through an app:

• access NHS 111
• access their healthcare record
• book a GP appointment
• order repeat prescriptions
• express their organ donation preferences
• express their data sharing preferences
• access support for managing a long term condition

Ofatumumab with chemotherapy for treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (terminated appraisal) - guidance (TA470)

NICE is unable to make a recommendation about the use in the NHS of ofatumumab with chemotherapy for treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia because no evidence submission was received from Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK. We will review this decision if the company decides to make a submission.

Idelalisib with ofatumumab for treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (terminated appraisal) - guidance (TA469)

NICE is unable to make a recommendation about the use in the NHS of idelalisib with ofatumumab for treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia because no evidence submission was received from Gilead Sciences. We will review this decision if the company decides to make a submission.

‘Vaginal seeding’ birth trend could do more harm than good, say experts

The potential benefits of vaginal seeding do not outweigh the risks, according to a group of doctors who reviewed the available evidence published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Vaginal seeding is the practice of exposing babies born by caesarean section to their mother’s vaginal fluids in order to expose them to bacteria that may help to build their immunity against some chronic conditions, such as asthma and allergies. This involves taking a swab of vaginal fluid and applying it to the baby’s eyes, face and skin after birth.

Achieving excellence in pharmaceutical care: a strategy for Scotland

The strategy sets out a vision of how pharmaceutical care will evolve in Scotland and the contribution of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, working together with other health and social care practitioners, to improve the health of the population and impact on health outcomes, especially for those with multiple long term and complex conditions.

Young people with chronic illness more likely to attempt suicide

Young people between the ages of 15 and 30 living with a chronic illness are three times more likely to attempt suicide than their healthy peers, according to a new study from the University of Waterloo.

The study found that chronic conditions -- such as asthma, diabetes and Crohn's disease -- increase a young person's odds of suicidal thoughts by 28 per cent and plans to die by suicide by 134 per cent. Having a chronic condition increases the odds of a suicide attempt by 363 per cent.

Chronic kidney disease in adults

New Quality Standard from NICE:

Healthcare professionals should offer statins to millions of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This will help to manage their increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), says NICE.

The new NICE standard lists Atorvastatin as the preferred statin to offer patients because it is both clinically and cost effective.

Investigation into NHS continuing healthcare funding

The National Audit Office has published a report charting the increasing demand for continuing healthcare (CHC), a package of care provided outside of hospital that is arranged and funded solely by the NHS for individuals with significant ongoing healthcare needs.

The report finds that the number of people assessed as eligible for CHC funding has been growing by an average of 6.4% a year over the last four years. In 2015/16, almost 160,000 people received, or were assessed as eligible for, CHC funding at a cost of £3.1 billion.

Multimorbidity Quality Standard

This quality standard covers clinical assessment, prioritising and managing healthcare for adults aged 18 years and over with 2 or more long-term health conditions (multimorbidity). At least 1 of these conditions must be a physical health condition. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.

Enabling change through communities of practice: Wellbeing Our Way

In June 2014, National Voices set out to explore and test how communities of practice could facilitate the spread of large-scale change across England’s voluntary sector working for health and wellbeing.

Wellbeing Our Way was born from the belief that voluntary and community sector organisations, alongside people with long-term health needs, can play a powerful role in creating a health and care ‘system’ which works for everyone: a system which values people’s strengths, is based in their communities, and enables people to make decisions based on their personal preferences and priorities.

Dementia long term condition scenario

In this new long term condition scenario from NHS RightCare – using a fictional patient, Tom – we examine a dementia care pathway, comparing a sub-optimal but not atypical scenario against an ideal pathway. At each stage we have modelled the costs of care, to the commissioner and the impact on the person and their family’s outcomes and experience.

Improving The Wellbeing of People with Opioid Treated Chronic Pain – The I-Wotch Study Protocol

BJP ASM Poster Abstracts 2017. First Published May 3, 2017 

I-WOTCH will evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a patient-centred multicomponent self-management intervention for people living with chronic non-malignant pain, that targets withdrawal of strong opioids on activities of daily living and opioid related adverse events.

UHCW Research: Shyam Balasubramanian

Developing A Complex Multi-Modal Self-Management Behaviour Change Intervention: Theories, Processes and Materials

BJP ASM Poster Abstracts 2017. First Published May 3, 2017 

 
The Improving the Wellbeing of people with Opioid-Treated CHronic pain (I-WOTCH) study aims to enable those with persistent non-malignant pain to self-manage their pain better, reduce opioid use and improve their quality of life. We report the complex intervention-development approaches, the pilot process evaluation, and the patient-facing material required.

UHCW Research: Shyam Balasubramanian

Interventions for promoting participation in shared decision-making for children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

Cochrane Systematic Review to determine the effectiveness of interventions that promote Shared Decision Making for children and adolescents with CF aged four to 18 years.

Shared care across the interface between primary and specialty care in management of long term conditions

Shared care has been used in the management of many chronic conditions with the assumption that it delivers better care than primary or specialty care alone; however, little is known about the effectiveness of shared care.

This Cochrane Systematic Review's aim was to determine the effectiveness of shared care health service interventions designed to improve the management of chronic disease across the primary/specialty care interface. This is an update of a previously published review.

The future of renal patient support is bright

An estimated 15 million patients in England have at least one long-term condition or chronic illness... It is also estimated that 30% of the UK population with long-term or chronic illnesses account for about 70% of NHS spending (de Silva, 2011).

With a growing older population, CKD prevalence is a general concern. The RPSG will look to focus on contributing evidence-based care/practices and integrating of knowledge in a wider sense.

UHCW Research: Andrew Morris