On targets: How targets can be most effective in the English NHS

"This report does not set out to determine whether targets, as a concept, are good or
bad, but focuses on how targets can be most effective for improving quality of care. It
builds on the evidence base regarding the impact of targets to identify good practice in
designing new or improved targets, and considers how policymakers can apply these
lessons to the challenges facing the NHS."

On targets: How targets can be most effective in the English NHS
N Berry, T Gardner, I Anderson
The Health Foundation
October 2015

Read more here.

Good practice in ambulance commissioning

"The National Ambulance Commissioners Network (NACN), which is part of NHS Clinical Commissioners, brings together individuals from across the country with an interest in ambulance commissioning to share learning, provoke discussion and work together to find solutions. As part of that we have collected and brought together a number of good practice examples to contribute to the ongoing debate on finding new approaches to the provision of emergency services, and the role that clinical commissioners can play in driving those new approaches forward."

Good practice in ambulance commissioning
The National Ambulance Commissioners Network
NHS Clinical Commissioners
June 2015

Read more here.

Improving experiences of care

"If we are to make sure experience is thought of in the same way as other aspects of high-quality care and that people’s experiences continually improve, there will need to be a fundamental shift in how people’s experiences are viewed and valued. "

Improving experiences of care: Our shared understanding and ambition
National Quality Board
January 2015

Read more here.

Joining up health and social care personal budgets: Key points on implementation

"Joint health and care personal budgets offer a potential model for delivering integrated care from the bottom up, at the level of the individual person. This briefing outlines the key themes from a workshop for senior professionals on joining up personal budgets, held at the King’s Fund. It also sets out a series of practical approaches to implementation that might be considered by local
leaders as they develop their approaches to integrating personal budgets."

Joining up health and social care personal budgets: Key points on implementation
NHS Confederation Briefing
January 2015 Issue 280

Read more here.

Alcohol care teams: reducing acute hospital admissions and improving quality of care

This QIPP case study recently won a BMJ Award.

Quality and Productivity: Proven case study: alcohol care teams: reducing acute hospital admissions and improving quality of care 
The British Society of Gastroenterology and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
Updated May 2014

Read more here.

Spreading improvement ideas

"This evidence scan summarises empirical research about what works to spread ideas in health care in order to advance improvement."

Spreading improvement ideas: tips from empirical research (evidence scan)
D de Silva
The Health Foundation
May 2014

Read more here.

Personal health budgets: including people with learning disabilities

"Implementing personal health budgets for people with learning disabilities can improve the quality of support, and thus the quality of life, for individuals and their families."

Personal health budgets: including people with learning disabilities
S Turner, A Giraud-Saunders
Think Local Act Personal

February 2014

Read more here.

Learning disabilities: good practice project

"The project is all about finding places where services for people with learning disabilities are very good. It aims to get people talking to each other to make services better."

Learning disabilities: good practice project
J Hough, K Martin
Department of Health
November 2013

Read more here.

Lessons for England: integrated care in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

"The aim of this report is to describe the approach taken to integrated care in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales with a view to drawing out the lessons for England."

Integrated care in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales: lessons for England
C Ham, D Heenan, M Longley, DR Steel
The King's Fund
July 2013

Read more here.

Evidence base of the public health contribution of nurses and midwives

This guide provides evidence sources for nurses and midwives working in public health. It lists sources of good practice, innovation, evidence, and key public health domains:

1. Improving the wider determinants of ill health
2. Health improvement
3. Health protection
4. Healthcare public health and preventing premature mortality

Read more here.

Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety

The GMC has published guidance on raising and acting on concerns about patient safety. The guidance sets out their "expectation that all doctors will, whatever their role, take appropriate action to raise and act on concerns about patient care, dignity and safety."

Access the guidance here.

Health Innovation Portal

The Health Council of Canada is reporting on innovative health care practices, policies, programs and services so they can be adopted elsewhere in Canada.

Access the Health Innovation Portal here.

Towards excellence in hospice care

"This publication which draws together the learning of a highly successful programme funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing, overseen by Help the Hospices and evaluated by Cass Business School, with input from over 26 hospices across the UK who have risen to the challenge of opening their doors wider to individuals, groups and communities previously under-represented in their patient profile."

Towards excellence in hospice care
Help the Hospices
October 2012

Read more here.

Sharing commissioning experiences

“Right Care enables sharing of good practice by compiling local examples of commissioning work, which demonstrate the philosophy behind Right Care or showcases the tools available through the programme.”

Sharing commissioning experiences: The Right Care Casebook Series: Volume 2
NHS Right Care
March 2012

Read more here.

Generating savings by improving health and well-being

"This briefing features examples of good practice from across the NHS to help inform the planning of strategies to further reduce sickness absence and highlights the opportunities for financial savings that can be made through the introduction and implementation of new policies."


Generating savings by improving health and well-being: experiences in NHS trusts
NHS Employers
November 2011

Read more here.