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Rolling Out Social Prescribing

Thursday, 1 October, 2020

This report sets out the findings of research conducted by National Voices for NHS England to explore the perspectives and experiences of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in relation to the NHS rollout of social prescribing. We heard from over 300 people through a series of interviews, workshops and online engagements between December 2019 and June 2020.

NHS England has made a significant commitment to ensure that social prescribing is available across the country, including the recruitment of over 1,000 specialist link workers during 2020/21, with more in the pipeline. This was a hugely welcome move, and testament to the work of colleagues within NHS England as well as across the wider health system and the VCSE sector. The commitment represents a major step towards realising the vision in the NHS Long Term Plan of personalised care for all. Social prescribing is increasingly recognised as a vital tool in the NHS’s strategic shift towards population health management. As a bridge between clinical services and the VCSE sector, it can enable people to access individualised help, and support community-based efforts to address the social determinants of health.

PDF icon Download Rolling out Social Prescribing.pdf (1.6 MB)

National Voices Annual Report 2020

Wednesday, 30 September, 2020

I am pleased to introduce the National Voices Annual Report for 2019-20. This year has been one of change for us, and with the Covid-19 crisis taking hold at the end of the year, it also marked the beginning of an important period for the charity sector and the whole country. Despite this challenging backdrop, National Voices has had a very successful year, demonstrating its unique and vital role in changing health and care, and growing its membership, income and influence.

Charlotte Augst - Chief Exec

PDF icon Download nv_annual_report_and_accounts_2019-20_compressed.pdf (2.11 MB)

Rapid data: We need it now (and in the future)

Friday, 11 September, 2020

Lessons from the COVID-19 experience should shape a better system for rapid nationwide data reporting 

The lessons learned from the COVID-19 experience around what it takes to provide high-value rapid information to the government, regions and hospitals across the country should not be lost as healthcare environments attempt to return to normal. Continuous data entry, integrated analysis and timely reporting are all essential to organise and provide optimal care to patients

The National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR) has worked with the cardiovascular Professional Societies and individual hospitals to ensure a continuous flow of data, to assess the impact of COVID on patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). A close collaboration between NHS Digital, NICOR and the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership with NHS England has also transformed the information governance landscape by creating a linked ‘cardiovascular data spine’. This has enabled data to be collated and analysed rapidly to inform Government and NHS policy.

PDF icon Download NICOR COVID 2020 Report.pdf (1.92 MB)

The Mental Health Emergency

Thursday, 20 August, 2020

The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic will leave a deep and lasting scar on the mental health of millions in this country. The devastating loss of life, the impact of lockdown and loneliness,

and the inevitable recession that lies ahead will affect all of us.  Prioritising mental health has never been more critical than it is now. New mental health problems have developed as a result of the pandemic, and existing mental health problems have gotten worse.

Supported by these findings in this report, we are urging  the UK and Welsh Governments to put mentalhealth at the very centre of their recovery plans. As we look to the future, those in power must make the right choices to rebuild services and support, and to ensure that the society that comes after the pandemic is kinder, fairer and safer for everyone experiencing a mental health problem.

PDF icon Download The mental health emergency_A4[112765].pdf (1.99 MB)

Assessing the impact of COVID on Social Care

Saturday, 1 August, 2020

COVID-19 outbreaks in care homes may be driven by multiple factors, including community transmission as well as infections picked up during hospital stays. Our analysis shows that between 17 March and 30 April, discharges from hospitals to care homes decreased in England to 86% of the historical average. 46,700 people were discharged from hospital to care homes between 17 March and 30 April – 7,700 fewer than previous years. The data available do not allow us to examine whether these discharges led to subsequent outbreaks in care homes.

PDF icon Download 20200730-Adult-social-care-and-COVID-19-impact-so-far.pdf (447.24 KB)

Assessing the Policy response to COVID

Saturday, 1 August, 2020

Government policies to support social care have faced major and widespread problems. There have been significant issues with access to testing and PPE, leading to a lack of protection for some people using and providing adult social care. Local authorities report that additional government funding has not been enough to cover COVID-19 costs. The fragmentation of the social care system has made it difficult to coordinate support.

Protecting and strengthening social care services appears to have been given far lower priority by national policymakers than protecting the NHS. Policy action on social care has been focused primarily on care homes and risks leaving out other vulnerable groups and services.

PDF icon Download 20200730-Adult-social-care-and-COVID-19-policy-response-so-far.pdf (390.06 KB)