Decentralisation of social services departments Project report no. 6; devolved resource management

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Assessment of a Picker System 1200 for 100mm fluorography

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Depression and mental health in care homes for older people

About five per cent of – generally very frail – older people live in long-term care in the UK; approximately a fifth of all deaths occur in care homes. Depression and dementia are prevalent mental health conditions in care homes; depression is reported in around a third of residents and dementia in two thirds. While there is some evidence about efficacy of medication in treating psychiatric and behavioural symptoms among residents, much less is known about the potential role of psychosocial interventions in enhancing mental health and quality of life. Quality of care varies widely across the carehome sector including support from primary and specialist health and quality and level of training. In terms of enhancing care quality, there is evidence that investing in staff training and conditions, establishing good links with healthcare providers, and developing care standards that genuinely promote good practice are likely to improve resident quality of life. This is an exciting area for research development and practice innovation for the future; taking account of users perspective, holds particular potential

Cost-Effectiveness of Current and Optimal Treatment for Adult Asthma

Background: This article is part of a project to determine the cost-effectiveness of averting the burden of disease. We used population data to investigate the costs and benefits of allocating resources to optimal treatment for asthma in adults, using a burden of disease framework. Methods: We calculated the population burden of asthma in the absence of any treatment as years lived with disability (YLD), ignoring the years of life lost. We then estimated the proportion of burden averted with current interventions, the proportion that could be averted with optimally implemented current evidence-based guidelines and the direct treatment cost-effectiveness ratio in $A per YLD averted for both current and optimal treatment. Results: The direct treatment cost of current treatment of adult asthma in Australia was$A452 million and averted 25% of the burden with a cost-effectiveness ratio of $A14 000/YLD averted. Optimal treatment and optimal compliance would cost$A627 million and avert 69% of the burden with a cost-effectiveness ratio of $A7000/YLD averted. Conclusion: Implementation of optimal treatment for asthma is affordable, will be more cost-effective and will significantly decrease disability