Lessons for commissioning and health outcomes from Her Majesty’s Prison Birmingham

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 224-227
Author(s):  
Jan Cassidy ◽  
Woody Caan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Needs Assessment ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Health Needs Assessment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Prison Health

Purpose This study of HMP Birmingham was part of a much larger investigation of health needs assessment (HNA), in the context of a new “HNA Toolkit” developed by Public Health England for use in the prison service. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach In 2015, details of prison healthcare in HMP Birmingham had figured in the authors’ analysis of documents. In 2018, a crisis in Birmingham typified problems developing more widely in England and Wales. Was the crisis predictable from the initial HNA? Findings Recommendations embodied in the 2015 HNA were not acted upon; the eventual problems that combined to overwhelm the running of HMP Birmingham were predictable. Originality/value Lessons from this case study could inform more coherent commissioning of prison health services. This in turn could promote timely developments for improved health and morale in the prison, amongst prisoners and staff. Longer term, this might help to avoid future crises.

scholarly journals Should social enterprises complement or supplement public health provision?

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-518
Author(s):  
Sammia Poveda ◽  
Melinda Gill ◽  
Don Rodney Junio ◽  
Hannah Thinyane ◽  
Vanessa Catan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This paper aims to explore how stable employment, company culture and tailored health, digital and core skills training provided by a social enterprise (SE) in the Philippines affect survivors of exploitation. Research shows survivors experience adverse social conditions and physical and mental health outcomes caused by their exploitative experience. Stable, decent employment has been identified as critical to their recovery and reintegration. This paper discusses the SE’s impact on the employees’ physical, mental and social health and behaviour. Based on our findings, the authors discuss the contribution of SE in improving health outcomes and providing health services and conclude that SEs should not replace but complement public health government programmes. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses mixed methods, presenting data from a longitudinal survey (household income, mental health and social well-being) and a follow-up qualitative study, which uses in-depth interviews and participatory videos to explore survey findings. Findings The quantitative analysis demonstrates positive, but gradual, changes in sexual and reproductive health behaviour; personal empowerment; and trauma, anxiety and depressive symptoms. The qualitative findings show how improvements in executive functioning, self-regulation and self-esteem occur incrementally over time. As their self-efficacy improves, employees need to avoid being overly dependent on the SE, to support their autonomy; therefore, access to complementary public health services is fundamental. Originality/value This paper focusses, to the authors’ knowledge, on a unique SE, which hires survivors of exploitation, without losing their competitiveness in the market.

scholarly journals Health Needs Assessment: Impact on Planning and Purchasing in the Public Health Sector in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Gregor David Coster
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Needs Assessment ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Document Analysis ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Health Needs Assessment ◽  
The Public ◽  
Strategic Plans ◽  
The Impact

<p>Health needs assessment (HNA) is one of the features of the New Zealand health system established by the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000. District Health Boards (DHBs) are to conduct HNAs, and planning of health services is intended to take into account the health needs of the population. Key questions for research relate to the impact of HNA on DHB planning and purchasing in a political/bureaucratic model of governance. This research was undertaken within a public policy framework that focused on evaluating the reforms against policy goals and expectations, and particularly against the influences that might be predicted from the HNA and prioritisation policy. Consideration was given to the range and effectiveness of past HNAs as well as the expectations and experiences of the DHB model in regard to HNA. Document analysis and 34 interviews were conducted regarding 50 HNAs conducted in the public health sector from 1991-2000 to assess their impact on service delivery, decision-making, and policy. Document analysis was undertaken on DHB HNAs, prioritisation frameworks, board priorities, District Strategic Plans, and District Annual Plans for each of 20 DHBs. Planning and Funding managers were interviewed using semi-structured interview techniques to ascertain their experiences and views regarding the use of HNAs in planning. Grounded theory approaches were mainly used for the interview analysis. Case studies of five DHBs provided an in-depth understanding of the connections between health needs assessment, prioritisation, District Strategic Plans and District Annual Plans. Collection of contextual data provided an understanding of the influence of other policy decisions made locally or nationally. Using triangulation, conclusions were drawn regarding the effectiveness and impact of HNA and prioritisation on planning and health service purchasing by DHBs. The implications for public policy were then considered. Recent needs assessments conducted by DHBs mostly met the minimum requirements of the Ministry of Health, but the quality was variable. DHB Planning and Funding Managers were unanimously positive regarding the usefulness of HNAs, and felt that there were good connections between them and the planning process (Connection Score). However, the impact of HNAs on planning and purchasing measured using document analysis (Impact Factor) was lower than expected. A number of barriers to effective use were identified. More focused HNA by DHBs is recommended with the use of mixed scanning approaches and service development groups directed towards specific service planning areas. Recommendations are made regarding future policy for HNA and prioritisation.</p>

scholarly journals Health Needs Assessment among Female Adolescents: A Case Study from Iran

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahid Khoshnoudfar ◽  
Mohammad-hasan Imani-Nasab ◽  
Mehdi Birjandi ◽  
Maryam Khoshnoudfar ◽  
Shadi Abdi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Needs Assessment ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Female Adolescents ◽  
Health Needs Assessment

Reflections on happiness

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-91
Author(s):  
Woody Caan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
First Century ◽  
Field Of Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Psychological Therapies ◽  
Twenty First Century

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the twenty-first century reach and impact of “happiness” work by one individual (Professor Lord Richard Layard). Design/methodology/approach The author approaches his work as a public health case study, with the caveat that the author knew this “Case” personally, which could influence the author’s assessment. Findings During 2005-2018, Richard Layard stimulated discussion of “happiness” as a field of study. This field now has global relevance to mental health, although its relationship to practice for population health is still debated. Originality/value Layard’s ideas are behind many initiatives, such as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies.

Evaluation of a new recovery college: delivering health outcomes and cost efficiencies via an educational approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Kay ◽  
George Edgley
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Secondary Care ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Educational Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cost Efficiencies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate cost efficiencies and health outcomes after one academic year of course delivery, in a recovery college. Design/methodology/approach The paper used service evaluation and review of data. Findings There is significant impact on health outcomes when standardised measures of Patient Activation Measure and Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale were completed pre- and post-intervention, with indications of possible financial efficiencies identified within secondary care mental health pathways. Research limitations/implications The current evaluation sample is only representative of community mental health populations rather than broader communities. However, indications are that the model is effective from a wider public health perspective (early intervention/prevention) in producing significant health outcomes in terms of improved wellbeing and increased levels of activation/self-management. More in-depth research collaboration with an academic institution is now required. Practical implications There is an implication that the recovery college needs to be fully embedded within the mental health pathway as part of the core offer. This would require significant service redesign and culture change within the organisation. Social implications There is a need to continue to work with other statutory service providers, key stakeholders, voluntary and community sectors to embed the college with wider public health services and ensure a holistic approach across local communities and the whole health pathway. Originality/value Although the model is based on the widely recognised national recovery college model, it has moved away from the usual boundaries of access only being for those attached to secondary care mental health services to a more holistic and integrative approach of offering access to the whole population. Social value is indicated in the ownership and co-production of the model by the collaboration of student expertise, experts by experience and experts by expertise. The co-produced integrated volunteering and work pathway offers positive and cost-efficient health outcomes from a co-designed and co-delivered educational approach.

A public health needs assessment for domestic indoor overheating

Public Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 147-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Bundle ◽  
E. O'Connell ◽  
N. O'Connor ◽  
A. Bone
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Needs Assessment ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Health Needs Assessment
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document