Should SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for all frontline healthcare staff be compulsory?

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (13) ◽  
pp. 828-829
Author(s):  
Alan Glasper
Keyword(s):  
Care Home ◽  
Emeritus Professor ◽  
Healthcare Staff ◽  
Care Home Staff ◽  
Government Decision ◽  
The University ◽  
Recent Government

Emeritus Professor Alan Glasper, from the University of Southampton, discusses the issues raised by the recent government decision to make vaccination against the virus causing COVID-19 mandatory for care home staff

Should influenza vaccination be mandatory for healthcare staff?

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-121
Author(s):  
Alan Glasper
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Emeritus Professor ◽  
Healthcare Staff ◽  
Flu Vaccination ◽  
The University

Emeritus Professor Alan Glasper, from the University of Southampton, discusses government concerns about the low uptake of flu vaccination among frontline healthcare staff

Independent review seeks to tackle obesity and other diet-related diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (17) ◽  
pp. 1040-1041
Author(s):  
Alan Glasper
Keyword(s):  
Food System ◽  
Emeritus Professor ◽  
Independent Review ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The University ◽  
Recent Government

Emeritus Professor Alan Glasper, from the University of Southampton, discusses a recent government-commissioned review on the food system of the UK

scholarly journals Care homes, their communities, and resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic: interim findings from a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Marshall ◽  
Adam Gordon ◽  
John R. F. Gladman ◽  
Simon Bishop
Keyword(s):  
Central Government ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Local Networks ◽  
Care Home Staff ◽  
East Midlands

Abstract Background From late February 2020, English care homes rapidly adapted their practices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to accommodating new guidelines and policies, staff had to adjust to rapid reconfiguration of services external to the home that they would normally depend upon for support. This study examined the complex interdependencies of support as staff responded to COVID-19. The aim was to inform more effective responses to the ongoing pandemic, and to improve understanding of how to work with care home staff and organisations after the pandemic has passed. Methods Ten managers of registered care homes in the East Midlands of England were interviewed by videoconference or phone about their experiences of the crisis from a structured organisational perspective. Analysis used an adapted organisational framework analysis approach with a focus on social ties and interdependencies between organisations and individuals. Results Three key groups of interdependencies were identified: care processes and practice; resources; and governance. Care home staff had to deliver care in innovative ways, making high stakes decisions in circumstances defined by: fluid ties to organisations outside the care home; multiple, sometimes conflicting, sources of expertise and information; and a sense of deprioritisation by authorities. Organisational responses to the pandemic by central government resulted in resource constraints and additional work, and sometimes impaired the ability of staff and managers to make decisions. Local communities, including businesses, third-sector organisations and individuals, were key in helping care homes overcome challenges. Care homes, rather than competing, were found to work together to provide mutual support. Resilience in the system was a consequence of dedicated and resourceful staff using existing local networks, or forging new ones, to overcome barriers to care. Conclusions This study identified how interdependency between care home organisations, the surrounding community, and key statutory and non-statutory organisations beyond their locality, shaped decision making and care delivery during the pandemic. Recognising these interdependencies, and the expertise shown by care home managers and staff as they navigate them, is key to providing effective healthcare in care homes as the pandemic progresses, and as the sector recovers afterwards.

scholarly journals The Contribution of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians to Person-Centred Care within a Medicine’s Optimisation in Care Homes Service: A Qualitative Evaluation

Pharmacy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Sally Fowler Davis ◽  
Rachel Cholerton ◽  
Louise Freeman-Parry ◽  
Jo Tsoneva
Keyword(s):  
Care Home ◽  
Pharmacy Practice ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Medicines Management ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Care Home Staff ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians seek to improve person-centred care. Improvements to systems for care homes seeks to reduce medicines waste and inefficiency, particularly through supporting care home staff, to enhance safer administration of medicines. A complex evaluation used qualitative design and utilised narrative enquiry, and team members and key stakeholders were interviewed. Framework analysis was used, aligning findings to a person-centred care framework for older people. The Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH) team brokered improvement practices across care homes to enhance person-centred care. The framework analysis confirms that the team used ‘authentic attention’ in relation to the residents’ experiences and flexibility in relation to negotiating medication. The importance of transparency of processes and systems in medicines management is highlighted, alongside requirements for person-centred care to make explicit the reason for taking a medication, and the continuous discussion with a range of stakeholders about the continuing need for particular medications. The outcome of the evaluation includes insights into a new area of pharmacy practice in community, based on the skills, knowledge, and experience of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working in the care home sector. Further study is needed into the efficacy and outcomes of medicines management interventions.

The importance of upholding the duty of candour during patient care

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-75
Author(s):  
Alan Glasper
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Emeritus Professor ◽  
The University

In light of recent media coverage, Emeritus Professor Alan Glasper, from the University of Southampton, discusses polices and guidance pertinent to the duty of candour

Strategies to boost the mental health and learning disability nursing workforce

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 194-195
Author(s):  
Alan Glasper
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Learning Disability ◽  
Nursing Workforce ◽  
Emeritus Professor ◽  
The University ◽  
Recent Policy

Emeritus Professor Alan Glasper, from the University of Southampton, discusses two recent policy reports which indicate a potential crisis in mental health and learning disability nursing

scholarly journals Improving the oral health of older people in care homes (TOPIC): a protocol for a feasibility study

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgios Tsakos ◽  
Paul R. Brocklehurst ◽  
Sinead Watson ◽  
Anna Verey ◽  
Nia Goulden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Complex Intervention ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Oral Health Promotion ◽  
Nice Guideline ◽  
Care Home Staff

Abstract Background Evidence for interventions promoting oral health amongst care home residents is weak. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline NG48 aims to maintain and improve the oral health of care home residents. A co-design process that worked with residents and care home staff to understand how the NG48 guideline could be best implemented in practice has been undertaken to refine a complex intervention. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of the intervention to inform a future larger scale definitive trial. Methods This is a protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial with a 12-month follow-up that will be undertaken in 12 care homes across two sites (six in London, six in Northern Ireland). Care homes randomised to the intervention arm (n = 6) will receive the complex intervention based on the NG48 guideline, whilst care homes randomised to the control arm (n = 6) will continue with routine practice. The intervention will include a training package for care home staff to promote knowledge and skills in oral health promotion, the use of the Oral Health Assessment Tool on residents by trained care home staff, and a ‘support worker assisted’ daily tooth-brushing regime with toothpaste containing 1500 ppm fluoride. An average of ten residents, aged 65 years or over who have at least one natural tooth, will be recruited in each care home resulting in a recruited sample of 120 participants. Assessments will be undertaken at baseline, 6 months and 12 months, and will include a dental examination and questionnaires on general health and oral health administered by a research assistant. A parallel process evaluation involving semi-structured interviews will be undertaken to explore how the intervention could be embedded in standard practice. Rates of recruitment and retention, and intervention fidelity will also be recorded. A cost-consequence model will determine the relevance of different outcome measures in the decision-making context. Discussion The study will provide valuable information for trialists, policymakers, clinicians and care home staff on the feasibility and associated costs of oral health promotion in UK care homes. Trial registration ISRCTN10276613. Registered on 17th April 2020. http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN10276613.

Strategies to protect the emotional health of frontline NHS staff in the pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 252-253
Author(s):  
Alan Glasper
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Health ◽  
Emeritus Professor ◽  
The University

Emeritus Professor Alan Glasper, from the University of Southampton, discusses strategies being employed to alleviate stress among NHS staff during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19: implications for NHS Staff

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 193-197
Author(s):  
Alan Glasper
Keyword(s):  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Emeritus Professor ◽  
The World ◽  
Clinical Environments ◽  
Public Health Institutions ◽  
Health Institutions ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The University

In light of the emergence in China of COVID-19, the novel corona virus, emeritus professor Alan Glasper, from the University of Southampton discusses the role of the World Health Organization and other public health institutions in responding to potential new global pandemics and deliberates on the role of NHS staff in coping with infectious disease in clinical environments.

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