Daily Comment / Health

Payment by Results – for real this time
Source: BBC, 14th May, 2008
Hospitals are to have pay linked to performance by using patient experience to measure the quality of care.

So, payment by results is going to get changed, ironically to a system that this time is based on actual results. The experts quoted in the article cite the problem of an already complicated system, and we would have to agree with them. Client satisfaction now has to be added to the huge set of financial measures needed to understand profitability.

Obviously, putting patient satisfaction at the heart of hospital performance is no bad thing (nor is it actually a change of tack). But by tying in patient reports into funding levels, the government is going to force hospitals to further evolve their commercial approach.

We will have a further look at this important change in next week’s Credo comment.

Care standards vary wildly; but the DoH defends its record
Source: HospitalHealthcare.com, 14th May, 2008; inthenews.co.uk
A new survey of NHS hospital patients in the UK has highlighted “striking” differences between health service trusts in some areas of patient care.

On the same day that Brown stated hospitals will be paid on performance, comes along a report that ranks hospitals’ performance! We’re on Ann Keen’s side here – the report reflects the positive news that patients are more happy with their care than last year. However, there are big variations between different trusts – and both those at the top and bottom of the pile need to know how to make the best of their situations.

Moor good news – productivity up!
Source: FT, 12th May, 2008
NHS productivity in the hospital sector has risen for the first time in a decade, according to an analysis by the King’s Fund, a leading health think tank.

The news that hospital productivity has risen for the first time in a decade is great news – and is hopefully only the beginning of continuous improvement across the NHS.

Darzi’s ideas, an SHA reports back
Source: Healthcare Republic, 14th May, 2008
SHA proposes closure of two A&Es as Darzi Review begins.The first local plans from Lord Ara Darzi’s NHS review have been condemned as ’shameful’ and ‘absurd’, by the Conservative Party.

The first SHA has released its vision for healthcare incorporating some of the Darzi reforms that have dominated the healthcare landscape in recent times. It shows less of a focus on primary care than Darzi wants. The battles, between so many different stakeholders (SHAs, PCTs, the government, the opposition, primary and secondary care providers) seems set to rumble on for many more months.

Choose and Book’s IT headache
Source: E Health Insider, 6th May, 2008
The latest version of Choose and Book to enable free choice at referral has been re-launched after Connecting for Health (CfH) had to delay launch of the update earlier this month.

Choose and Book has been re-launched once again following problems three weeks ago. We are amazed that it has taken so long to sort it out. And it seems the issues aren’t just about sending out the wrong appointments, security is also a concern.

Credo comment

Social Care is shaken up

Gordon Brown sets his sights on the social care market
The social care market is worth around £15bn per annum, of which £9.7bn is spent on caring for the physically disabled or the elderly. Gordon Brown has pledged to reform the whole social care system. The main focus needs to be on the elderly, where a funding crisis looms.

For the full article please click here.