Outputs

We know that health services need a shake-up. How else can we meet ever increasing demand while holding down costs and improving quality and productivity? But shake-ups, involving novel combinations of technology, services and infrastructure, can do a lot of damage - and still fail to achieve their goals.

This is the final report from our horizon scanning exercise to anticipate new challenges facing the health care system over the next 5 years and to provide guidance on areas where there is a need for further research.

This is our report: “Non-drug treatments for symptoms in dementia: an overview of systematic reviews of non-pharmacological interventions in the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms and challenging behaviours in patients with dementia”.

The recent Department of Health report, ‘Innovation, Health and Wealth’ tells an intriguing story about the potential economic benefits of the  NHS. It goes further than rehearsing how it helps to develop a healthy, productive and economically active population.

PIRU provided two guidance notes to the Department of Health on issues to do with evaluating the DRW pilots, one in 2011, the other in 2012.

There is wide concern about anti-psychotic drugs being prescribed far too readily for patients with dementia, particularly in care homes. The so-called ‘chemical cosh’ has been blamed by government-commissioned research for the premature deaths of 1,800 people a year.

PIRU provided a guidance note to the Department of Health on issues to do with evaluating the pilot programme.