WIREDGOV NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
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Technology reaches to help dispel loneliness |
Five tech companies have been awarded contracts to use cutting-edge technology to tackle the problem of rural isolation and loneliness. These businesses will create new technology platforms to match the supply & demand for transport in rural areas, as well as minimise the risk of digital exclusion among older people and those in more isolated, rural areas with limited connectivity. In November 2017, the £20m Govtech Catalyst Programme was launched to help fund innovative tech firms, to solve public-sector challenges through innovation and emerging technologies. As part of a wider commitment to use technology to improve lives and transform the delivery of public services, the government will publish an innovation strategy in spring 2019. |
Researched Links: |
CO: Government uses innovative tech companies to tackle rural isolation & loneliness WAG Minister joins #DontDanceAlone campaign to help tackle loneliness in Swansea Faith Minister calls on religious communities to bridge divides The power of the arts & social activities to improve the nation's health “Loneliness & social isolation is a growing threat to public health: We must tackle it together” Winter is often the loneliest time Demos: Reading can help halt loneliness epidemic, says new report It is easy to fall into a ‘solitary’ routine Many people can ‘relate’ to this issue |
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Need for more ‘thinking (& recruiting) outside the box’ |
More routes to leadership are needed for external business leaders as well as clinicians in senior staff roles. Secretary of State for Health & Social Care Matt Hancock has said that barriers need to be broken down to give the NHS the future leaders it needs. He said he wants to:
The Health & Social Care Secretary spoke at the King’s Fund following the publication of Sir Ron Kerr’s review into empowering leaders in the NHS. He called on NHS leaders to lead by example to create a culture where their staff feel safe to speak out about mistakes, and where everyone understands the benefits of using new technology in healthcare. He also spoke about the need to improve diversity in NHS leadership. This follows the government’s announcement in October that it will make black, Asian & minority ethnic representation in senior leadership match that across the rest of the NHS by 2020. |
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DHSC: Matt Hancock: NHS needs to widen search for best leaders DHSC: Good NHS leadership starts with culture change NHS Confed: We need best people and that means casting our net widely The King’s Fund response to Matt Hancock’s speech on leadership Collaborate: Leading public services today: it’s tough out there |
Does this help explain why they are too busy to ‘solve’ minor crimes? |
Police officers are increasingly being used as the service of default in responding to people with mental health problems, a report by HMICFRS has confirmed. The report, ‘Policing & Mental Health: Picking Up the Pieces’, makes it clear that whilst the police service is doing a good job in difficult circumstances, there are concerns over whether the police should be involved in responding to mental health problems at the current level. The report emphasises that there needs to be a radical rethink and a longer-term solution to what has become a national crisis. HMICFRS commissioned a survey to understand better the public’s view of the role of the police service in helping people with mental health problems. The findings included:
The police service is stepping in to fill shortfalls in the health service. This includes:
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HMICFRS: Police cannot fix a broken mental health system ScotGov: Support for young people in custody Home Office hosts roundtable on mental health demand on policing They are already ‘in a bad place’ even before being ‘banged-up’ in a cell Not every ‘illness’ has ‘visible’ symptoms Funding boost for vulnerable female offenders in the community LGA responds to Theresa May's announcement on mental health & suicide New rules restricting the use of police cells as places of safety come into effect |
SME Supplier Locator update... | ||
UK Government and public sector spend with SME’s is continually on the increase and by 2020, it is the stated intent of Cabinet Office that £1 of every £3 spent on government contracts goes to SME’s. Against this ambitious backdrop, the WiredGov Supplier Locator service has been developed specifically to embrace the SME Agenda and provide the ideal platform for SME’s to promote their services, solutions, accreditation and success stories directly to our ever increasing audience across all government and public sector verticals and Tier 1 suppliers. Recent arrivals to the SME Supplier Locator service include:
Click here to find out more. |
Not such a Smart bit of technology perhaps? |
The government’s original ambition of installing smart meters in every home by 2020 will not be met, and the cost of the rollout will likely escalate beyond initial expectations, says the NAO. The BEIS underestimated how long it would take to implement the infrastructure & technical standards for the second generation of Smart Meters (SMETS2). Significant technical delays resulted in the first SMETS2 meters only being installed in July 2017, over 3 years later than first planned. In their absence, energy suppliers have installed 12.5m SMETS1 meters, 7.1m more than the Department’s planned 5.4m. The mass rollout of SMETS1 meters has added to the complexity and cost of the programme. Around 70% of SMETS1 meters “go dumb” when people switch supplier because the new supplier is unable to communicate with the meter. This means people must choose between remaining with a more expensive tariff or losing the benefits of their smart meter. Currently 943,000 SMETS1 meters have lost their smart functionality and are operating in dumb mode. The Department plans to resolve this issue by connecting SMETS1 meters to the central communications infrastructure that has been built for SMETS2 meters, but this project has been delayed by six months (to May 2019) and the NAO has said it is not certain if it will work for all SMETS1 meters. |
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BEIS: Smart meters are the smart choice, now and in the future MSE News: Just 1.2% of smart meters will definitely stay smart when you switch At £11bn are they a cost effective idea as you WILL end up paying for them? |
Editorial Commentary; Lies, Damned Lies. Statistics and Treasury Brexit Forecasts |
Britain’s economy would be tipped into a year-long recession, with at least 500,000 jobs lost and GDP around 3.6% lower, following a vote to leave the EU, new Treasury analysis launched yesterday by the PM & Chancellor shows. Speaking at B&Q in Eastleigh, Hampshire, the Prime Minister and Chancellor set out the Treasury’s analysis of the impact on the nation’s economy over the immediate period of two years following a vote to leave. This analysis shows that such a decision would cause an immediate and profound economic shock across the country, creating instability and uncertainty which would be made worse by the complex negotiations that would follow to agree the terms of Britain’s exit from the EU and its new relationship with the rest of Europe. Britain to enter recession with 500,000 UK jobs lost if it left EU, new Treasury analysis shows (26/05/2016) HM Treasury analysis shows leaving EU would cost British households £4,300 per year (18/04 2016) The problem with official Government forecasts is that they become part of the public record, which people can look back on and comment on at a future date. So it is no surprise that Brexiteers announce their incredulity when the Chancellor / HM Treasury appear to have recycled press releases forecasting ‘the end of the UK’s economic world’ if we don’t remain in servitude to our EC/EU ‘masters. Just like in 2016, when there were many expert’ forecasting ‘doom & gloom’ if we moved to WTO trading terms (like most of the world trade done with the EU), there are some less hysterical analysis publications which cast reasoned doubt on those findings. B4B: The Treasury claims a ‘no deal’ Brexit will cut UK GDP by 8% – just how silly is this? (November 2018) BfB: Project Fear Alive & Well Some definitions of the term ‘Expert’ Briefings for Brexit has helpfully provided an analysis of just what the PM’s ‘only option’ deal would commit us too and one can see why she is having such a hard job selling it and why MP’s are unlikely to vote for it. B4B: Selling a sellout - the truth about the PM’s ‘deal’ with Brussels Finally, perhaps the PM, Chancellor, HMT and other forecasters would do well to reflect on an old quote by Abraham Lincoln; “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” |
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Editorial commentary: More Brexit ‘pondering’ PWC: UK could remain a top 10 global economy in 2050, despite Brexit One notes that the Commonwealth population is over 5 times the size of a post Brexit EU! Open Europe: Nothing to declare - A plan for UK-EU trade outside the Customs Union Civitas: British business need have little to fear from EU tariff barriers Civitas: EU share of UK exports is in dramatic decline, new analysis shows Editorial commentary; Some ‘more positive’ aspects of Brexit |
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