A fundamental shift is urgently needed in the delivery of health and care to meet the challenges of a rapidly ageing society, say the authors of a new report from The King’s Fund.

The report, Making our health and care systems fit for an ageing population, argues that health and care services have failed to keep up with dramatic demographic changes, which will see one in five people in England over the age of 65 by 2030. It finds that transforming services for older people will require a fundamental shift towards care co-ordinated around individual needs rather than single diseases, and that prioritises prevention and support for maintaining independence.

The authors identify individual components of care that need to improve with goals which include improving collaboration between the NHS and social care to ensure that patients can leave hospital promptly once their treatment is complete, with good support available in the community.

Read more on CALL FOR FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN HEALTHCARE DELIVRY…

People with long-term conditions such as dementia or diabetes should be given “whole-person care”,according to Ed Miliband the Labour leader . A new report calls for the current system which treats “body parts” to be scrapped.

Read more on CALL FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TO JOIN UP AND PROVIDE A SEAMLESS SERVICE…

There has been a dramatic drop in the number of local authorities accepting additional government funding in return for freezing council tax.

The offer of additional funding has been taken up by 231 local authorities. This compares with 358 take ups in the previous year. In percentage terms this represents a drop from 85% to 54%

Read more on STEEP FALL IN SUPPORT FOR COUNCIL TAX FREEZE…

The National Audit Office wants the Regional Growth Fund to be spent more quickly to create jobs. It also wants a tighter grip on spending.

The government established the Regional Growth Fund in 2010 to encourage private-sector enterprise by providing support for projects with the significant potential for economic growth and to support those areas and communities that currently depend on the public sector. The Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills are responsible for the Fund.

Read more on WATCHDOG CALLS FOR FASTER SPENDING ON JOB CREATION…

Ministers have urged local councils to release surplus land for development. Whitehall departments are spearheading the sell off with 430 sites sold to date.

Ministers claim that the Whitehall sell off of brown field sites will allow 68,000 homes to be built. This is equivalent to a town the size of Blackpool. Redundant hospitals and military sites feature prominently among the sites sold off.

Read more on COUNCILS URGED TO GIVE UP LAND BANKS…

Councils across the UK are being urged to join one of the biggest digital inclusion campaigns of the year to help local people get online.

Spring Online is an award-winning initiative that makes it possible for thousands of people, often older people, to try out using computers and tablets and the internet, many for the first time.

Read more on CALL TO COUNCILS TO HELP LOCAL PEOPLE SPRING ON LINE…

The IPPR think tank has called for a new public service reform agenda with a focus on devolving power, connecting services & strengthening relationships. The call goes beyond Ed Miliband’s determination to ‘drive power down’ and devolve responsibilities to those who use public services.

Read more on THINK TANK URGES RADICAL PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM BEYOND MILLIBAND’S VISION…

More than 1 in 5 hospitals are set to be in deficit by the end of this financial year, according to a survey of NHS trust finance directors conducted for The King’s Fund’s latest quarterly monitoring report.

Read more on FINANCIAL PRESSURES FORCING MORE HOSPITALS INTO DEFICIT…

A mental health action plan has been launched to ensure equality for mental health and increase access to the best-possible support and treatment. It sets out 25 areas where immediate action is being taken.

Read more on MENTAL HEALTH ACTION PLAN LAUNCHED…

Following successful piloting, councils are being invited to subscribe to the LetsHelpYou website which allows tenants to find more affordable accommodation in the private rental sector. The council subscription allows tenants to use the service free of charge.

Read more on HELP FOR TENANTS SEEKING AFFORDABLE RENTED ACCOMMODATION…