Survey shows improvement in antimicrobial stewardship
The number of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) with antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes is rising and two thirds of CCGs are achieving their antibiotics reduction target, a repeat of our 2016 investigation shows.
But our latest review found there is still considerable variation between CCGs, and that some areas still need significant improvement.
Key findings include:
More CCGs had had an AMS programme for longer in 2019, compared to 2016.
More than two fifths of Clinical Commissioning Groups had a named individual responsible for the implementation of their AMS programme, up from a third in 2016.
Two thirds of CCGs were currently achieving their antibiotics reduction target
There was a big increase in the number of CCGs implementing the full TARGET toolkit for AMS programmes, nearly double the number from 2016
Nearly three quarters believed there was more they could do to achieve the aims of their AMS programme.
Our recommendations include:
Research into why some CCGs do not appear to have established AMS programmes and what could be done to help them establish a programme
Research into geographical disparities in prescribing rates
CCGs should include measures of AMR in system targets and monitoring mechanisms to embed antimicrobial monitoring and evaluation practice
Establishing dedicated core local funds for use in raising awareness of AMR and AMS among professionals and the general public
Establishing a local AMR innovation fund to pilot and purchase new diagnostic technologies and e-prescribing systems.
Taking a community-first approach to tackling health inequalities
At the start of this week, our Chief Executive Rachel Power took part in a webinar organised by the NHS Confederation on health inequalities.
NHS Reset: Introducing Health Inequalities, chaired by Lord Victor Adebowale, Chair of the NHS Confederation, featured discussions about definitions and the impact of COVID-19 on health inequalities now and in the medium/long term.
Rachel has blogged about the themes she addressed during the webinar and introduced the Health Inequalities Coalition, which we founded earlier this year.
Could you help decide which healthcare interventions are available to patients in England?
NHS England would like patients’ views on its Evidence-Based Interventions programme. This programme aims to review treatments offered by the NHS, to make sure that patients only get treatments that are supported by evidence. This may mean providing newer, less invasive treatments for instance, rather than using more old-fashioned approaches.
NHS England has asked the Patients Association to facilitate a number of focus group sessions with patients to gather patients’ views. The focus groups are likely last 2-3 hours and will be held on 13th and 20th of August, with a further date yet to be confirmed.
If you would like to be part of these focus groups, please email abdullah.mahmood@patients-association.org.uk to register your interest. All participants taking part in the focus groups will be reimbursed with a £50 voucher.
Patient wanted for webinar: lessons for primary care from lockdown
Online healthcare provider GPDQ and the Best Practice Partnership would like to invite one reader to take part in a webinar, Critical Lessons Primary Care Must Learn From. But hurry: you need to apply by 5pm today.
The webinar will debate how the health sector can improve patient pathways by learning from the experience of the pandemic.
The webinar is on the 6th of August, between 12.30pm and 1.30pm, and will take place on Zoom.
The organisers are looking for a patient representative who is passionate about contributing to change in healthcare. Ideally, although it is not essential, you will be able to reflect on your own personal experiences as a patient during the webinar.
If you would like to find out more information please email helene@thomond.co.uk with a few lines stating why you would be a good fit for the panel.
Experiences of hospital discharge
Earlier this summer we published findings from our work on unsafe early discharge from hospital. Our survey found that premature discharge led to a range of problems, including the serious worsening of their health for some patients.
Our survey was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and now Healthwatch England would like to find out what has happened to hospital patients since March. During the pandemic, the usual processes hospitals follow to discharge patients changed, in order to free up beds. Under the emergency measures, patients were:
Discharged within two hours, once they no longer needed hospital care
Assessed for care and support needs after they left hospital
Moved to the first available bed in a care home, if they couldn’t go home
Provided with any further care or support they needed, fully funded by the NHS.
While these changes have got people out of hospital and helped the NHS manage the demand created by COVID-19, it’s not known how the new processes are working for patients, their families and healthcare professionals.
To find out, Healthwatch is running a survey that will take ten minutes to complete.
Have you had a GP appointment since lockdown started easing?
Have you seen your GP since lockdown started easing ? If not, is that because you’re fearful of catching COVID-19 while you’re there?
We are exploring patients’ attitudes to returning to GP surgeries and supporting two surveys to find out more. We’re working with Assura, a company that builds and manages GP surgeries and primary care centres, to find out how patients feel about visiting GP surgeries, after staying away for so long.
In this survey we’re asking what would improve your sense of security, and what measures you think practices should introduce to ensure your safety. Assura will use the survey’s findings in the design and management of its buildings and we’ll share the results with primary care leaders.
If you have ten minutes, share your thoughts and you’ll help to make GP practices better and safer for all patients.
We’re also supporting a survey that the Patient Information Forum is running into how patients are weighing up the pros and cons of attending medical appointments, especially among people with health conditions.
The aim of the survey is to identify the factors that are important to patients. The findings will enable information providers to provide details that will help patients make informed decisions about attending appointments.
The anonymous survey will only take five minutes of your time to complete.
RSM offers free tickets to summer webinar series – care pathways
Next week’s RSM webinar, on Wednesday 29 July 2020, is an extended special, Redesigning NHS Care Pathways Around Patient Generated Data. The panel will describe the Care Information Exchange, a patient portal that holds the records for over 1.6 million patients and facilitates the sharing of healthcare records across North West London.
Panel members will discuss the resulting improvements in patient care, especially in detecting deterioration during hospital stays and afterwards in the community, and the economic benefits that have accrued from using patient-generated data.
The first 10 readers to email digitalhealth@rsm.ac.uk with the subject TEN62 will each receive a free ticket for the webinar.
From the helpline
Our helpline has taken a number of calls recently from people concerned that their GP practice is not going to go back to offering face-to-face appointments, which they would prefer.
Our suggestions if you are in this position and would like to take action to get your practice to open up again, are as follows:
Contact the surgery’s practice manager as well as the surgery’s patient participation group to raise the issue
Contact the CQC and your local Healthwatch with your concerns about reduced accessibility
Consider contacting your local MP and councillors to make them aware of your concerns
Contact the Royal College of General Practitioners - the RCGP supports GPs, but we believe it’s a good idea to make it aware of patients’ concerns.
To share your experiences with our helpline team, call 0800 3457115 between 9.30am and 5pm on weekdays or email helpline@patients-association.org.uk. See our website for more ways to get in touch.
Our vision is that health and social care will be delivered in a way that meets every person’s health and social care needs.
Our mission is to give effect to the patient voice, to improve patient experience and support people to engage fully in their own care. Find out more about our values on our website.
The Patients Association is a registered charity in England and Wales (1006733). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (02620761)
Registered address: P Block, Northwick Park Hospital, The North West Hospitals NHS Trust, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3YJ
