This book explores the Care Trust concept promoted by central government for improving partnership working between health and social care. Using case studies and examples to raise current issues related to partnership working, it explains how Care Trusts are bridging the gap between health and social care, and considers how they are delivering more co-ordinated services and improved outcomes. All healthcare and social care professionals with responsibility for, involved in or affected by the new partnership working arrangements will find this book useful reading.

NHS Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) were created in 2002 to commission health services for their local populations, and are currently responsible for controlling about 80 per cent of the £76 billion NHS annual budget. In addition, PCTs have responsibility for public health, and many also provide community-based health services such as district nursing and community hospitals. The Committee's report examines the Government's proposals (set out in the Department of Health paper 'Commissioning a Patient-led NHS' published in July 2005, which can be downloaded at http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/67/17/04116717.pdf) to cut the number of PCTs and to contract out community health services by the end of 2008. The report raises a number of serious concerns about the proposals, including in relation to: failings in the consultation process; the impact of PCT restructuring and divestment of provider services; and the likelihood that the estimated financial savings of £250 million will be achieved.

Written in clear, conversational English, this book can help anyone understand how a living trust avoids the complications, expenses, and delays of probate at times of incapacity and death.

Advances in medical, biomedical and health services research have reduced the level of uncertainty in clinical practice. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) complement this progress by establishing standards of care backed by strong scientific evidence. CPGs are statements that include recommendations intended to optimize patient care. These statements are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and costs of alternative care options. Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust examines the current state of clinical practice guidelines and how they can be improved to enhance healthcare quality and patient outcomes. Clinical practice guidelines now are ubiquitous in our healthcare system. The Guidelines International Network (GIN) database currently lists more than 3,700 guidelines from 39 countries. Developing guidelines presents a number of challenges including lack of transparent methodological practices, difficulty reconciling conflicting guidelines, and conflicts of interest. Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust explores questions surrounding the quality of CPG development processes and the establishment of standards. It proposes eight standards for developing trustworthy clinical practice guidelines emphasizing transparency; management of conflict of interest ; systematic review-guideline development intersection; establishing evidence foundations for and rating strength of guideline recommendations; articulation of recommendations; external review; and updating. Clinical Practice Guidelines We Can Trust shows how clinical practice guidelines can enhance clinician and patient decision-making by translating complex scientific research findings into recommendations for clinical practice that are relevant to the individual patient encounter, instead of implementing a one size fits all approach to patient care. This book contains information directly related to the work of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), as well as various Congressional staff and policymakers. It is a vital resource for medical specialty societies, disease advocacy groups, health professionals, private and international organizations that develop or use clinical practice guidelines, consumers, clinicians, and payers.

Even though primary and community care managers face the same challenges as their hospital counterparts they’ve never had an equivalent range of methods for evaluating workforce size and mix. So this book aims to set the record straight by explaining community demand and supply side workforce planning and development. Eight chapters set out the main variables, from dependency and workload, activity and performance, staff education, recruitment and retention, before the most recent data are synthesised into a set of software-supported algorithms that managers can easily adopt. The book and software enable readers to not only compare their organisations with those in the same socio-economic group but also against ‘best-practice’ staffing and performance. Both help managers determine if their stock of workers is equitable, efficient and effective. Finally, a large annotated bibliography helps users locate relevant publications, and readers should look out for workshops in 2006 designed take them through the book’s methods.

Following the GMC’s call for greater social and behavioural science input into undergraduate medical education, this brand new title in the Lecture Notes series provides an understanding of how education, social class, family, economics and occupational circumstances, as well as cultural and ethnic influences, shape patients and health professionals alike. A deeper appreciation and understanding of these issues can have a positive effect on clinical diagnosis and practice. Emphasising clinical relevance at all times, the book features photographs and line drawings to illustrate key points, and case studies that provide real-life illustrations of the points discussed. It also contains 'points of view' boxes which encourage critical thinking and challenge the reader to come up with their own explanations for the phenomena described. Lecture Notes: The Social Basis of Medicine provides information and materials useful not only for undergraduate medical students, but also for recently graduated and practising doctors who wish to have a greater understanding of, and to develop their skills in, this area.