Health PolicyPub Date : 2024-06-22DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105118
Graham Kirkwood, Allyson M Pollock, Peter Roderick
{"title":"Private sector expansion and the widening NHS treatment gap between rich and poor in England: Admissions for NHS-funded elective primary hip and knee replacements between 1997/98 and 2018/19","authors":"Graham Kirkwood, Allyson M Pollock, Peter Roderick","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105118","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105118","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Parliament has imposed duties on the government and NHS in England aimed at reducing health inequalities.</p></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><p>to understand the effect on inequalities of government policies, which require the NHS in England to outsource elective surgery to the private sector.</p><p>We analysed the numbers of admissions for hip and knee replacement surgery from the least and most deprived population quintiles in three time periods: before the introduction of the policies (1997/98–2002/03); following the implementation of the independent sector treatment centre programme (2003/04–2006/07); and after the extension of 'choice at referral’ (2007/08–2018/19).</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>despite admission rates doubling and trebling for hip and knee replacements, respectively, between 1997/98 and 2018/19, inequality grew to the detriment of the most deprived. Inequality grew at the fastest rate during period 3; admission rates to the NHS fell while admissions to the private sector continued to rise. By 2018/19 almost a third of NHS funded procedures were provided privately.</p><p>In 1997/98, for every 10 patients admitted for hip and knee surgery from the most deprived quintile, 13 and 9, respectively were admitted from the least deprived, by 2018/19 the gap had widened to 19 and 15, respectively.</p><p>Socio-economic inequalities for hip and knee replacement have widened as outsourcing of NHS treatment to the private sector has increased. The NHS must rebuild in-house capacity and provision instead of outsourcing care.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"146 ","pages":"Article 105118"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168851024001283/pdfft?md5=ac09d810f632894c1ec1c98f425f0361&pid=1-s2.0-S0168851024001283-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141472723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health PolicyPub Date : 2024-06-21DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105114
Markus Frischhut , Rosella Levaggi
{"title":"With a little help from my (neighbouring) friends. ‘Border region patient mobility’ in the European Union: A policy analysis","authors":"Markus Frischhut , Rosella Levaggi","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105114","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105114","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Increased disparities in income and health care expenditure across EU countries may lead to an increase in patient mobility, which may, in turn, call for more action by the EU and its Member States. At present, patient mobility (or cross-border healthcare) is still a marginal phenomenon but is deemed to increase in the future. In this paper we examine border region patient mobility, defined as patients receiving care in a neighbouring country within a certain proximity. We examine, with the use of a spatial competition model, the options used to regulate such a patient flow and their welfare implications, both for patients and Governments. We show that marginal price costing would lead to an increase in patient welfare, whilst reducing the risk of increasing cost for the exporting country.</p><p>At present there seems to be an East/West difference in the way these flows are regulated. In order to increase equity, we suggest that a ‘joint implementation’ of EU Directives by neighbouring Member States, especially in the field of cross-border healthcare, would allow Member States to define target populations (in terms of type of care and distance travelled) that could allow more freedom in terms of border care, without increasing health care expenditure. A future combination of the two existing legal frameworks in this field would also be more user- or patient-friendly.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"146 ","pages":"Article 105114"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168851024001246/pdfft?md5=a473a1a2611ca827eac507880a63b8ec&pid=1-s2.0-S0168851024001246-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141472724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health PolicyPub Date : 2024-06-20DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105116
Bridie J. Kemp , David R. Thompson , Vivien Coates , Sarah Bond , Chantal F. Ski , Monica Monaghan , Karen McGuigan
{"title":"International guideline comparison of lifestyle management for acute coronary syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A rapid review","authors":"Bridie J. Kemp , David R. Thompson , Vivien Coates , Sarah Bond , Chantal F. Ski , Monica Monaghan , Karen McGuigan","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105116","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105116","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a life-threatening condition, with ACS-associated morbidity and mortality causing substantial human and economic challenges to the individual and health services. Due to shared disease determinants, those with ACS have a high risk of comorbid Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Despite this, the two conditions are managed separately, duplicating workload for staff and increasing the number of appointments and complexity of patient management plans. This rapid review compared current ACS and T2DM guidelines across Australia, Canada, Europe, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA. Results highlighted service overlap, repetition, and opportunities for integrated practice for ACS-T2DM lifestyle management across diet and nutrition, physical activity, weight management, clinical and psychological health. Recommendations are made for potential integration of ACS-T2DM service provision to streamline care and reduce siloed care in the context of the health services for ACS-T2DM and similar comorbid conditions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"146 ","pages":"Article 105116"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016885102400126X/pdfft?md5=1a3f59a87e74ecbdc2db50799a484a4d&pid=1-s2.0-S016885102400126X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141472722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health PolicyPub Date : 2024-06-20DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105115
Vera van Schie
{"title":"Governance related factors influencing the implementation of sustainability in hospitals: A systematic literature review","authors":"Vera van Schie","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Climate change is a pressing issue that has a negative impact on the planet but also on public health. The healthcare sector contributes to environmental pollution, while it aims to improve health. Therefore, its environmental sustainability should be improved. This study focuses on the governance of sustainability in hospitals, since hospitals are the largest operational units in the healthcare system and can therefore make a large impact. To successfully implement and embed sustainable development through the hospital, the right governance approach is needed. This systematic literature review aims to give an overview of governance related factors that influence the implementation of sustainable development in hospitals in Europe. Following PRISMA guidelines, 2426 papers were identified and screened of which 30 were included in the analysis. In these papers, four governance related factors were identified to be important for the implementation of sustainable development in the hospital: knowledge, involvement from management, commitment from healthcare professionals, and technology use. These factors currently mostly form barriers in the implementation process. Future research is recommended on how to practically deploy these factors as facilitators for implementation. Since both involvement from management and commitment from healthcare professionals are crucial factors, further research should look into combining the input of these stakeholders in policy development.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"146 ","pages":"Article 105115"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168851024001258/pdfft?md5=b99ec8197ec377c1d1ee4c39bc3f8f2d&pid=1-s2.0-S0168851024001258-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141460831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health PolicyPub Date : 2024-06-20DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105111
J.R. Baker , Leanne Wells , Michelle Bissett , Christina Aggar , Genevieve A. Dingle , Rosanne Freak-Poli
{"title":"Extending the discussion and updating information on social prescribing in Australia","authors":"J.R. Baker , Leanne Wells , Michelle Bissett , Christina Aggar , Genevieve A. Dingle , Rosanne Freak-Poli","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105111","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"146 ","pages":"Article 105111"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141435100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health PolicyPub Date : 2024-06-15DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105113
Costanza Vicentini , Elettra Ugliono , Heba Safwat Mhmoued Abdo Elhadidy , Giovanni Paladini , Alessandro Roberto Cornio , Federico Cussotto , Mario Morino , Carla Maria Zotti
{"title":"Surgical reorganization during the COVID-19 pandemic and impact on case-mix and surgical site infections: A multicenter cohort study in Italy","authors":"Costanza Vicentini , Elettra Ugliono , Heba Safwat Mhmoued Abdo Elhadidy , Giovanni Paladini , Alessandro Roberto Cornio , Federico Cussotto , Mario Morino , Carla Maria Zotti","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to major disruptions in surgical activity, particularly in the first year (2020). The objective of this study was to assess the impact of surgical reorganization on surgical outcomes in Northern Italy in 2020 and 2021.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 30 hospitals participating in the surveillance system for surgical site infections (SSIs). Abdominal surgery procedures performed between 2018 and 2021 were considered. Predicted SSI rates for 2020 and 2021 were estimated based on 2018–2019 data and compared with observed rates. Independent predictors for SSI were investigated using logistic regression, including procedure year.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>7605 procedures were included. Significant differences in case-mix were found comparing the three time periods. Observed SSI rates among all patients in 2020 were significantly lower than expected based on 2018–2019 SSI rates (p 0.0465). Patients undergoing procedures other than cancer surgery in 2020 had significantly lower odds for SSI (odds ratio, OR 0.52, 95 % confidence interval, CI 0.3–0.89, p 0.018) and patients undergoing surgery in 2021 had significantly higher odds for SSI (OR 1.49, 95 % CI 1.07–2.09, p 0.019) compared to 2018–2019.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Enhanced infection prevention and control (IPC) measures could explain the reduced SSI risk during the first pandemic year. IPC practices should continue to be reinforced beyond the pandemic context.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"146 ","pages":"Article 105113"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168851024001234/pdfft?md5=69d6543eb71083dc860a73df250bde25&pid=1-s2.0-S0168851024001234-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141416230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health PolicyPub Date : 2024-06-14DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105101
Peter Sivey, Jinglin Wen
{"title":"The effect of community diagnostic centres on volume and waiting time for diagnostic procedures in the UK","authors":"Peter Sivey, Jinglin Wen","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105101","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105101","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Many health care systems are looking to implement policies to improve productivity and accessibility of health care. In this paper we use data from the English National Health Service to evaluate the effect of introducing new “Community Diagnostic Centres” in 2021 which aim to increase volume, reduce waiting times, and increase accessibility to diagnostic procedures. Our results show an increase in volume of diagnostic procedures associated with the introduction of CDCs at local NHS organisations. We find some evidence the increase is driven by an increase in MRI scans in particular, and this result is larger for CDCs located in more deprived local areas. We find no effect on waiting times which may indicate some demand response to increased availability of tests.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"147 ","pages":"Article 105101"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168851024001118/pdfft?md5=325f53a4f2996c735a32504ceea9138c&pid=1-s2.0-S0168851024001118-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141391967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health PolicyPub Date : 2024-06-08DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105112
Susi Geiger , Barbara Prainsack , Hendrik Wagenaar
{"title":"The WHO Pandemic Agreement should be more specific about when and how to enable global access to technology","authors":"Susi Geiger , Barbara Prainsack , Hendrik Wagenaar","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105112","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Timeliness is repeatedly referenced in the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement negotiation draft, published in March 2024. However, the draft remains vague with regard to what is considered timely. Health policymaking should be much more conscious of the time scales it evokes and implements in order to support global equity and solidarity. The Pandemic Agreement negotiation draft could be made more specific to foster global synchronicity by: (1) replacing ‘best endeavor’ language with enforceable timelines, particularly for benefit sharing mechanisms, (2) mandating an automatically triggered time-bound IP waiver for pandemic health technologies to accelerate manufacturing and distribution scale-up to global levels, and (3) strengthening the pandemic fund and debt relief mechanisms to safeguard financial resources to enable global synchronicity for future pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. In summary, global solidarity during a pandemic requires more attention to synchronicity by ensuring the simultaneous implementation and rollout of measures to prevent, contain, or end a pandemic in different countries or regions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"146 ","pages":"Article 105112"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141303211","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health PolicyPub Date : 2024-06-06DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105100
K Claxton , J Lomas , F Longo , A Salas Ortiz
{"title":"Sampson and Cookson's commentary: What is it good for?","authors":"K Claxton , J Lomas , F Longo , A Salas Ortiz","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105100","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"146 ","pages":"Article 105100"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141323938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Health PolicyPub Date : 2024-06-06DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105097
Madelon Kroneman , Gemma A. Williams , Juliane Winkelmann , Peter Spreeuwenberg , Krisztina Davidovics , Peter P. Groenewegen
{"title":"Personal protective equipment for healthcare workers during COVID-19: Developing and applying a questionnaire and assessing associations between infection rates and shortages across 19 countries","authors":"Madelon Kroneman , Gemma A. Williams , Juliane Winkelmann , Peter Spreeuwenberg , Krisztina Davidovics , Peter P. Groenewegen","doi":"10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105097","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study aimed to assess the preparedness of European countries regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) for health and care workers (HCWs), the COVID-19 infection rates of HCWs compared to the general working age population, and the association between these. We developed a PPE-preparedness scale based on responses to a questionnaire from experts in the Health Systems and Policy Monitor network, with a response rate of 19 out of 31 countries. COVID-19 infection data were retrieved form the European center for Disease Prevention and Control. Shortages of PPE were found in most countries, in particular in home care and long-term care. HCW infection rates, compared to the general population, varied strongly between countries, influenced by different testing regimes. We found no relationships between HCW infection rates, PPE preparedness and shortages of PPE. Improved surveillance in the population as well as for HCWS are needed to be able to better assess these relationships.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55067,"journal":{"name":"Health Policy","volume":"146 ","pages":"Article 105097"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168851024001076/pdfft?md5=c632870a8d0dbb4150709d5531f55a70&pid=1-s2.0-S0168851024001076-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141312984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}