Caroline De Brún

Caroline De Brún
Caroline has been a medical librarian in a variety of NHS and academic roles since 1999, working in academic, primary and secondary care settings, service improvement, knowledge management, and on several high profile national projects. She has a PhD in Computing and currently develops resources to support evidence-based cost and quality, including QIPP @lert, a blog highlighting key reports from health care and other sectors related to service improvement and QIPP (Quality, Innovation, Productivity, Prevention). She also delivers training and resources to support evidence identification and appraisal for cost, quality, service improvement, and leadership. She is co-author of the Searching Skills Toolkit, which aims to support health professionals' searching for best quality clinical and non-clinical evidence. Her research interests are health management, commissioning, public health, consumer health information literacy, and knowledge management. She currently works as a Knowledge and Evidence Specialist for Public Health England, and works on the Commissioning Elf in her spare time.

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New CCGs need a variety of information sources in order to make effective decisions, according to survey

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Caroline De Brún
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Weighing scales

The authors of this paper found that the way people search for evidence relating to commissioning decisions varies, depending on their professional background. That is why this paper is particularly pertinent to commissioners, policy decision-makers, health managers, and medical librarians, who have the necessary skills to help staff working in commissioning to find the best [read the full story…]

Partnerships between trusts and voluntary sector can deliver efficient, high-quality, patient-centred care, according to report

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Caroline De Brún
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People working together

This report has been written in partnership with the Foundation Trust Network and the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations. Its purpose is to show health care providers and commissioners how building partnerships with the voluntary sector can improve patient care, by working together to meet the five key areas of the NHS Mandate: [read the full story…]

Effective support from health and social services could improve carer well-being, study suggests

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Caroline De Brún
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Pile of stones balanced

This paper is particularly pertinent to commissioners of both health and social care, as it addresses the needs of informal carers of people suffering from long-term neurological conditions (LTNCs), such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), Motor Neuron Disease (MND), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Implications of long-term neurological conditions LTNCs get progressively worse, with sufferers becoming more and [read the full story…]

Reducing variation in prescribing activities in primary care

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Caroline De Brún
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Doctor holding up a prescription form

  Introduction This study, carried out in Scotland, is relevant to commissioners and general practitioners, as it demonstrates why there are variations in prescribing practice, and how these can be managed. The authors have noticed that there is “significant variation in the quality of prescribing” and they have carried out an ethnographic study into why [read the full story…]

“Healthcare commissioning has the potential to tackle inequalities” according to briefing

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Caroline De Brún
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Four hands pointing

Introduction This briefing has been prepared for clinical commissioners, commissioning managers, and everyone who works with multi-ethnic populations. It combines the findings from the Sheffield Hallam University project “Evidence and Ethnicity in Commissioning (EEiC) with other research, and practical experience. The aim of the Briefing is to demonstrate how health organisations can improve commissioning for [read the full story…]

“Investment in patient improves outcomes and reduces costs” according to research

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Caroline De Brún
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The word "Quality" highlighed

Introduction This report, published by the Patient Information Forum (PIF) and its accompanying briefings, is aimed at policy makers, commissioners, and information specialists. It is informed by 300 research papers and experts in the area of patient information, including representatives from NHS Choices, General Practice, Informed Medical Decisions Foundation, the Health Foundation, and the Information [read the full story…]

“Inactivity costs the NHS an estimated £1.06 billion…” according to report

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Caroline De Brún
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Pathway sign

Introduction This guidance has been prepared for commissioners and all staff providing lifestyle advice in primary care, including community health and allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists. It aims to raise awareness of the issues caused by inactivity, not just for individuals, but for the health service and economy as a whole, and provides a [read the full story…]

“Surgeons and commissioners used a different language when they met” according to project findings

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Caroline De Brún
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Surgeons

Rational commissioning This report describes a project, led by Right Care, to involve surgeons in the commissioning decision-making process, because observations made by the Department of Health and Surgical Specialty Associations showed that there were inconsistencies in the rates of elective surgical procedures between Primary Care Trusts, and that sometimes existing surgical procedures were “classified [read the full story…]

Supporting early diagnosis in primary care

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Caroline De Brún
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Imaging

Introduction This good practice guide is a collaborative effort between the Royal College of Radiologists, the Royal College of General Practitioners, and the Society and College of Radiographers. It has been developed to improve imaging services in the early stages of illness, particularly in primary care, by building strong partnerships between diagnostic imaging departments and [read the full story…]

Practical ideas for tackling teenage pregnancy

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Caroline De Brún
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Condoms and contraceptive pills

Introduction Tackling teenage pregnancy has been high on the political agenda since 1999, when the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy was published. Teenagers who become pregnant probably need more support than older mothers-to-be. Young women often become pregnant because they come from unsupported backgrounds and have no ambition or self-belief, and where they have access to alcohol [read the full story…]