Programme

Since the publication of Liberating the NHS the Forum has been working to assess, analyse and then inform the best outcomes for London. The Forum believes that while London is demographically and geographically diverse, issues such as homelessness and infectious disease respect no borders. For these reasons we have been working to ensure that strategic oversight is maintained once NHS London is abolished next year, and to ensure that good examples of pan-London working, such as stroke services, are not undermined.

Monitoring London

The Forum is taking advantage of the Information Revolution currently being driven by the Department of Health and will be focusing on a variety of benchmark indicators to monitor London’s health performance. Our chosen indicators are:

• Rates of MMR and Polio vaccination;

• Referral to treatment times;

• Admissions to Accident and Emergency; and

• Rates of mental health crisis resolution and early intervention.

  Please get in contact with us if you are interested in receiving quarterly updates.
  
  

Commissioning and Any Willing Provider

The Forum's report on commissioning (December 2008) highlighted significant weaknesses on both sides in the commissioning relationship between the statutory and voluntary sectors.  In particular, the statutory sector has poor awareness of providers, who can in turn struggle with the often wasteful bureaucracy around tendering.  The Forum is therefore exploring whether novel approaches to mapping could help enrich service provision while cutting costs. In Particular, the Forum has been working with the Department of Health to inform the development of the any willing provider model and ensure it addresses the shortcomings outlined in our report.

...read commissioning report

Debt and health

There is a strong association between debt and poorer health.  Conversely, people who seek early debt advice have better health outcomes. 

We have been working to keep London informed of the impact of the recession on indebtedness and to use the power of NHS and other channels to get people to advice sooner.  In this, we are grateful for the support of the Department of Health, NHS London and London Councils.

Healthcare reports

There is an abundance of information about healthcare and outcomes in London but it can be hard to reconcile in accessible and understandable form.  In previous years, the Forum has put together reports looking at performance in ten London boroughs.  Do get in touch if you would like PDF copies.

In the year ahead, we plan to publish regular articles looking at particular issues facing London, such as childhood obesity, HIV and the impact of an ageing society on eye health.