Health and social care

The Department of Health provides a policy lead on health and social care; this policy is then delivered and monitored by the Department, National Health Service (NHS) and a wide number of public and private sector entities. Every citizen at some time or another is a recipient of the services provided by these entities.

In the health sector, the C&AG audits each year:

• the Department of Health’s Resource Account;
• the accounts of its arms length bodies such as NHS Blood and Transplant;
• the summarised accounts of Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and NHS Trusts; and
• the consolidated account for Foundation Trusts. 

Our audit of the summarised accounts is accompanied by a report on financial management in the NHS.

The Value for Money (VFM) programme provides assurance to Parliament that the NHS and Department of Health delivers economy, efficiency and effectiveness across the health sector.  Recent reports have covered the new General Practitioner contracts, the reorganisation of neo-natal services and the role of Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment services in Helping people through mental health crisis.

As well as providing this assurance, it is important that we can add value by highlighting good practice or emerging issues; studies which have had significant impact include the reports on obesity in 2001  and 2006, stroke care in 2005 and clinical governance in primary care in 2007.

In addition to formal reports to Parliament, we also produce a range of other outputs from our financial audit and VFM work. Examples of these further outputs include:

• Patient stories on stroke, dementia and neonatal services [Footnote 1];
• a good practice guide on temporary nursing;
• supplementary reports providing an international comparison for the subject reviewed, such as Dementia: International Comparisons; and
• survey responses which individual trusts can use to benchmark themselves against best practice, such as Survey of Neonatal Units in England by the National Audit Office. 

We have developed sector specific versions of NAO toolkits, for example a workshop for NHS non-executive Directors based on the NAO Audit Committee self assessment checklist and other audit committee guidance.[Footnote 2]

Health Focus

We produce annual digests of our work in the Health sector called Health Focus aimed at NHS Chief Executives. The latest is Health Focus Spring 2009.

1.  [back from footnote 1] Patient stories on neonatal services. For a dvd of patient stories on dementia, please contact us on enquiries@nao.gsi.gov.uk 
2.  [back from footnote 2] See The effective Audit Committee: workshop prompts.

Features

Improving services for people with rheumatoid arthritis

On 8 December 2009, the National Audit Office hosted a conference on how improved services for people with rheumatoid arthritis would provide better value for money, better outcomes for patients and lead to productivity gains for the economy.

Read full article: Improving services for people with rheumatoid arthritis

Reducing healthcare associated infections in hospitals in England

Tackling healthcare associated infections in hospitals is a main priority for the National Health Service (NHS). We review progress since our last report in 2004.

Read full article: Reducing healthcare associated infections in hospitals in England

Supporting people with autism through adulthood

It is estimated that there are around 400,000 adults with autism in England. Many of these adults may require specialist support from health, social care, education and employment services.

Read full article: Supporting people with autism through adulthood

See also: Improving services for adults with autism: a national conference

NHS Pay Modernisation in England – Agenda for Change

The National Audit Office's report NHS Pay Modernisation in England - Agenda for Change looks at the implementation of the Agenda for Change programme between 2004 and 2006. It examines the implementation of Agenda for Change and whether the intended benefits have been achieved.

Read full article: NHS Pay Modernisation in England – Agenda for Change

End of life care services

End of life care services aim to support those with advanced, progressive, incurable illness to live as well as possible until they die. In England, approximately half a million people die each year, almost two-thirds of whom are aged over 75 years. Around three quarters of deaths follow a period of chronic illness, such as cancer or heart disease, where people may need access to end of life care.

Read full article: End of life care services

General Practitioner Services

In February 2008 we published our review of the New contracts for general practice services in England.  This was the second in a series of three reviews covering pay modernisation in the NHS.

Read full article: General Practitioner Services

Improving Services and Support for People with Dementia

On 12 July 2007, the National Audit Office, with the Care Services Improvement Partnership and the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, presented findings and recommendations from the NAO's report on improving services and support for people with dementia.

Read full article: Improving Services and Support for People with Dementia

Promoting well being for older people

The NAO and the Department for Work and Pensions, in association with the Better Government for Older People Network and the Older People's Advisory Group, held a one day conference on Promoting well being for older people on 17 April 2007.

For further details please see the conference brochure, agenda and exhibitor information.

Workshop presentations for this conference are now available:

Workshop 2: Rotherham - a voyage of discovery

Workshop 3: Stroud - a top designer

Following this event, the following publication has been produced which highlights the key messages emerging from the conference:

Promoting well being for older people: a conference update

Joining Forces to Deliver Improved Stroke Care

The NAO, in association with The Royal College of Physicians, The Stroke Association and Connect, held a conference on Joining Forces to Deliver Improved Stroke Care on 19 October 2006. For further details, please see the delegate brochure (PDF 366 kb).

The presentation (PDF 150 kb)  from this conference is also now available.

Good practice in managing the use of temporary staff

NHS trusts rely heavily on temporary nursing staff and temporary nurses have become vital to cover changing demands and staff absences.  Yet at the same time their use must be well managed or staff morale and patient satisfaction is affected.

Read full article: Good practice in managing the use of temporary staff

Reporting on the delivery of Cancer Services in the NHS in England

On 25 April and 11 May 2005 we launched the findings from two major studies on cancer services in England. 

Conference materials are available here

A Safer Place to Work

Management of health and safety risks and violence and aggression in NHS Trusts were at the heart of an NAO conference on 24-25 November 2003.

Read full article: A Safer Place to Work

Educating and Training the Future Health Professional Workforce in England - Developing the Partnership

Following the publication of its report Educating and Training the Future Health Professional Workforce for England, the NAO hosted a conference for 300 delegates, held on 21 November 2001.

Read full article: Educating and Training the Future Health Professional Workforce in England

Better Blood Transfusion

On 29 October 2001, the NAO in association with the Department of Health, held the second conference on improving NHS blood transfusion services.

Download conference materials (external website)