• In Focus

    Long-term segregation in mental health hospitals

    The Independent Care (Education) and Treatment Review (IC(E)TR) programme, chaired by Baroness Hollins, reviewed the care and treatment of 191 people who were detained in long-term segregation between November 2019 and March 2023. On 8 November 2023 a report outlining the review’s findings was published highlighting concerns about the practice of long-term segregation, including a lack of therapeutic benefit. The government’s response to the report was published on the same day. This briefing considers the findings ahead of a debate in the House of Lords.

  • In Focus

    Mental health support for children and young people

    Over recent years there has been a decline in the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. There has also been an increase in demand for mental health services. The government and NHS England have committed to a number of policies intended to increase the availability of these services and improve the quality of care. This article considers the types of care provided and the reaction to these recent policy announcements.

  • In Focus

    King’s Speech 2023: Health and social care

    The government will set out its legislative programme for the new parliamentary session in the King’s Speech set to be delivered on 7 November 2023. The speech and accompanying briefing notes are expected to detail certain health and social care-related initiatives, including measures to restrict the sale of tobacco products to young people and a draft Conversion Therapy Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in the new session.

  • Current Affairs Digest

    Current Affairs Digest: Science—part 2 (October 2023)

    Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are changing medical diagnostics. Trained on vast datasets of images and research, AI tools are designed to interpret scans, refine images for clinical review and map anatomy ahead of treatment. AI has the potential to save clinician time, costs and workload. This briefing presents a range of studies on applications, accuracy and challenges.

  • In Focus

    Impact of ultra-processed food on children’s health

    Ultra-processed foods have undergone a high degree of industrial processing and are typically high in calories, salt, saturated fat and sugar. Studies have linked these foods to obesity and other health risks. The government has expressed its concern over these potential links but has stated that the underlying causes are not yet fully understood. Therefore, government policy has focused on reducing the consumption of foods high in salt, saturated fat and sugar.

  • In Focus

    Reforming adult social care: House of Lords committee report

    Government plans for adult social care have undergone several changes in the last decade. In December 2022, the House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee published a report examining the adult social care system and making recommendations to make it a “progressive, visible, fairer and kinder system”. In July 2023, the government published a response. It pointed to commitments in its April 2023 white paper, including reform of the adult social care workforce, housing for people who required care and tackling delayed discharge and unnecessary admissions to hospitals.

  • In Focus

    Osteoporosis and fracture liaison services: Reducing future fracture risk

    Fracture liaison services are designed to proactively identify people who have had a fracture which may have been caused by osteoporosis. Patients can then be assessed and given appropriate treatment or signposting, with the aim of treating the underlying condition and preventing future fractures. The provision of fracture liaison services in England has been referred to as a ‘postcode lottery’ by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, and evidence shows variation in quality and provision.

  • In Focus

    Expanding the use of controlled drugs in healthcare

    In 2019 the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs recommended that paramedics be able to independently prescribe and administer a small number of controlled drugs, including morphine sulphate, diazepam and codeine phosphate. This followed an NHS England recommendation and would be subject to paramedics completing appropriate training. The government responded in 2022 to say it accepted this recommendation and would table regulations to effect this and associated changes when time allowed.

  • In Focus

    Preparing for climate change

    Climate change is expected to have significant impacts across a range of domestic policy areas. Both the government and the independent Climate Change Committee, a statutory advisory body, agree on the need for significant adaption efforts to mitigate related risks. This summer the government is due to publish the latest edition of its five-yearly national adaption programme. This will detail how it plans to go about addressing climate risks and comes 15 years after the Climate Change Act 2008 became law.

  • In Focus

    Emergency healthcare in crisis: Public Services Committee report

    In September 2022, the House of Lords Public Services Committee found that “emergency access to healthcare is in crisis”. The committee outlined an action plan which it said set out how the government could address some immediate challenges in the short term and begin developing a new model for emergency health services which are fit for purpose in the long term.

  • In Focus

    Trade unions: Members and relations with the government

    Ahead of a House of Lords debate on government support to skilled professional graduate workers who belong to a trade union, this briefing looks at the demographics of trade union membership. It also covers recent relations between the government and trade unions, especially over strikes, pay and the government’s Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill.

  • In Focus

    NHS eating disorder services

    In 2017, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) published a report following the death of Averil Hart, a 19-year-old with anorexia. It concluded that Averil’s death had been avoidable, linking it to failings in NHS eating disorder services. During the coronavirus pandemic there was an increase in demand for eating disorder services, particularly among young people. The House of Lords is due to debate the progress made in implementing the PHSO report’s recommendations.

  • In Focus

    Tackling violence against women and girls in the UK

    The UK government has labelled violence against women and girls as a national threat. It has committed to a range of actions to protect women and girls against harm in strategies focused on tackling violence against women and girls and domestic abuse. The government has also introduced measures through legislation such as the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The House of Lords is scheduled to debate this issue on 29 June 2023.

  • In Focus

    NHS in England: Current performance and innovation

    The NHS in England has not been able to meet many of its pledges on maximum waiting times for patients in recent years. Challenges facing the health service include increasing demand, funding constraints, additional pressures arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, workforce shortages and industrial action among other issues. This article surveys recent summaries of NHS performance in England and selected commentary on innovation in the health service ahead of a debate on the subject in the House of Lords.

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