Understanding dementia memory services across London

This reports details the results of the clinical audit carried out on London dementia memory services by the Dementia CN’s Effective diagnosis work stream.

The audit found substantial variation between services, and the report provides recommendations to address this and improve practice.

Understanding dementia memory services across London
June 2016
London Clinical Networks

Read more here.

The cost-effectiveness of testing strategies for type 2 diabetes: a modelling study

"Based on the multiethnic LEADER population, among individuals currently attending NHS Health Checks, it is more cost-effective to screen for diabetes using a HbA1c test than using a FPG test. However, in some localities, the prevalence of diabetes and high risk of diabetes may be higher for FPG relative to HbA1c than in the LEADER cohort."

The cost-effectiveness of testing strategies for type 2 diabetes: a modelling study 
Gillett M, Brennan A, Watson P, Khunti K, Davies M, Mostafa S, et al.
Health Technology Assessment 2015;19(33)

Read more here.

Use of a validated screening tool for psoriatic arthritis in dermatology clinics

"We wanted to implement a robust system of screening for PA [psoriatic arthritis] in both psoriasis and general dermatology clinics in accordance with NICE guidelines which would be sustainable and reduce potential missed cases of the disease."

Use of a validated screening tool for psoriatic arthritis in dermatology clinics

B Ganatra, D Manoharan, V Akhras
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u203335.w2644

Read more here.

Advancing the science of measurement of diagnostic errors in healthcare: the Safer Dx framework

"We posit that the Safer Dx framework can be used by a variety of stakeholders including researchers, clinicians, health care organizations and policymakers, to stimulate both retrospective and more proactive measurement of diagnostic errors. The feedback and learning that would result will help develop subsequent interventions that lead to safer diagnosis, improved value of health care delivery and improved patient outcomes."

Advancing the science of measurement of diagnostic errors in healthcare: the Safer Dx framework
H Singh, DF Sittig
BMJ Quality and Safety 2015;24:103-110 doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003675

Read more here.

The frequency of diagnostic errors in outpatient care

"Our population-based estimate suggests that diagnostic errors affect at least 1 in 20 US adults. This foundational evidence should encourage policymakers, healthcare organisations and researchers to start measuring and reducing diagnostic errors."

The frequency of diagnostic errors in outpatient care: estimations from three large observational studies involving US adult populations
H Singh, AND Meyer, EJ Thomas
BMJ Quality and Safety, 2014; 23: 727–731.

Read more here.

Think autism: an update to the government adult autism strategy

"By thinking about and engaging with people who have autism more effectively, by making reasonable adjustments or adaptations and by involving them and building their capabilities, there will be better outcomes for them and a better use of public resources."

Think autism: fulfilling and rewarding lives, the strategy for adults with autism in England: an update
Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnership Directorate
Department of Health
April 2014

Read more here.

Improving outcomes: a strategy for cancer

"The main focus of the Improving outcomes: a strategy for cancer, was around improving cancer survival through earlier diagnosis of cancer and improved access to the best possible treatment."

Improving outcomes: a strategy for cancer - third annual report
Department of Health, Public Health England, NHS England
December 2013

Read more here.

The UK strategy for rare diseases

"The Strategy aims to ensure that people living with a rare disease have the best quality of evidence based care and treatment that our health and social care systems, working with charities and other organisations, our researchers and industry can provide."

The UK strategy for rare diseases
Department of Health
November 2013

Read more here.

Quality Standard: Headaches in young people and adults

"NICE quality standards describe high-priority areas for quality improvement in a defined care or service area. This quality standard covers the diagnosis and management of the most common primary headache disorders (tension-type headache, migraine and cluster headache) and medication overuse headache in adults and young people aged 12 years and older."

QS 42: Headaches in young people and adults
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
August 2013

Access the quality standard here.

Dementia Prevalence Calculator (v2)

"This tool enables health and care communities to:

• calculate local dementia diagnosis rates
• forecast local dementia prevalence
• view trajectories and set ambitions for improvement in diagnosis rates
• compare diagnosis rates with other localities
• view and compare diagnosis rates on the Ambition Map
• link to the Knowledge Portal to access a wealth of resources to improve dementia diagnosis rates, and diagnosis pathways."

Read more here.

Quality standards for teledermatology

"Teledermatology involves referring an image of the skin or the skin appendages of a patient together with relevant history of the condition to a clinician for advice....Wherever possible, a teledermatology service should be part of an integrated local dermatology service and should not destabilise local specialist services but work with them to optimise patient care."

Quality standards for teledermatology
Primary Care Commissioning
March 2013

Read more here.

Service improvement in blood sciences

"The vision for the NHS pathology services puts patients first by providing services which are:

• clinically excellent;
• responsive to users;
• cost effective; and
• integrated."

Service improvement in blood sciences: how to improve quality, delivery and efficiency for laboratory providers and their customers
NHS Improvement - Diagnostics
January 2013

Read more here.

First steps to improving chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care

"NHS Improvement has over a decade of experience in clinical patient pathway redesign in cancer, diagnostics, heart, lung and stroke and demonstrates some of the most leading edge improvement work in England which supports improved patient experience and outcomes."

First steps to improving chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care
NHS Improvement - Lung
October 2012

Read more here.

Colorectal cancer quality standard

This quality standard, published by NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence), covers the diagnosis and management of adults with newly diagnosed and recurring adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum.

Access the quality standard here.

General practice, diagnostic investigations and hospital services before and after cancer diagnosis

"Cancer patients' heightened demand for GP services one year after their diagnosis highlights the importance of close coordination and communication between the primary and the secondary healthcare sector."

Use of general practice, diagnostic investigations and hospital services before and after cancer diagnosis - a population-based nationwide registry study of 127,000 incident adult cancer patients
KG Christensen, M Fenger-Gron, KR Flarup, P Vedsted
BMC Health Services Research, 2012, 12:224

Read more here.

Unlocking diagnosis: the key to improving the lives of people with dementia

"The inquiry found there were barriers throughout the process of diagnosis, from people having poor understanding of dementia so not visiting a doctor, through issues faced by GPs and memory specialists, to problems with the quality of support offered immediately following diagnosis."

Unlocking diagnosis: the key to improving the lives of people with dementia
All-Party Parliamentary Group report 2012
July 2012

Read more here.