Protecting resources, promoting value: a doctor’s guide to cutting waste in clinical care

Protecting resources, promoting value: a doctor’s guide to cutting waste in clinical care  Most waste in the NHS lies within clinical practice and models of care. Low value services and unnecessary use of clinical resources undermine the sustainability of high value care and hinder the development of new interventions.

This report provides a framework for a way in which doctors can think critically about waste from a clinical perspective and provides examples of doctors improving the value of health care by reducing waste. Estimates suggest that around 20% of mainstream clinical practice brings no benefit to the patient as there is widespread overuse of tests and interventions. Academy of Medical Royal Colleges

See also:

• UK doctors have 'ethical duty' to prevent waste BBC News
• NHS wastes over £2bn a year on unnecessary or expensive treatments The Guardian
• Doctors Wasting NHS Money By Handing Out Too Many Drugs and X-Rays says Report International Business Times

The Better Care Fund: will the plans work?

The Better Care Fund: will the plans work? Last week’s announcement about the Better Care Fund plans coincided with the annual gathering of social care leaders in Manchester, the publication of a grim ‘state of the nation’ assessment of social care funding by the Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, and further evidence of deteriorating NHS performance as shown in our latest NHS quarterly monitoring survey.

Local government secretary Eric Pickles declared in a parliamentary written statement that health and social care services were being integrated ‘for the first time’ under these plans, a historically curious assertion to which Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt added ‘the time for talk is over – our plans will make this vision a reality’.

Guidance: Antimicrobial prescribing: resources for professional development and practice

Guidance: Antimicrobial prescribing: resources for professional development and practice These resources can be used by pharmacists and healthcare professionals for continuing professional development (CPD), and as sources of information and reference material about antibiotic prescribing in both primary and secondary care. Public Health England

Guidance on prevention and management of stress at work

Guidance on prevention and management of stress at work For the past two years, 38 per cent of staff have told the NHS Staff Survey that they have suffered stress in the previous 12 months. NHS Employers also estimates that over 30 per cent of all sick leave is now caused by work-related stress in the NHS, costing up to £400 million each year. This guidance aims to help managers throughout the NHS reduce stress in the workplace and better support staff who experience it. NHS Employers

VIDEO: Ebola chief: 'This disease is still a crisis'

VIDEO: Ebola chief: 'This disease is still a crisis' The United Nations mission charged with fighting Ebola does not yet have the capacity to defeat the disease, the operation's head tells BBC News

Get IT 'right this time' - Williams

Get IT 'right this time' - Williams The National Information Board's framework for action will provide a guiding set of principles for a "revolution" in healthcare IT, Health and Social Care Information Centre chief executive Andy Williams has said. E-Health Insider

Most people dont know they have the right to view medical records online

Most people dont know they have the right to view medical records online Only 3% of GPs currently offer service to patients although all will be expected to by April 2015

More than two-thirds of patients do not realise that they have the right to see their records online, research shows.

As many as 71% of people are unaware that technology allows them to access their GP record online or via a smartphone, according to the results of a YouGov survey of 2,243 adults. Respondents added that they would use the technology, or thought it would help manage their health better. Continue reading... The Guardian

Fears that UK is not tackling preventable diseases

Fears that UK is not tackling preventable diseases Charities say th UK is not doing enough to help people live healthier lives and reduce their chance of diseases fuelled by obesity, alcohol and smoking. The Daily Telegraph

Lives will be lost unless the Government acts on off-patent drugs, charities warn

Lives will be lost unless the Government acts on off-patent drugs, charities warn Leading medical charities have warned “lives could be lost” if the Government does not act to make a group of low-cost, safe drugs for conditions including breast cancer, multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s available to patients. The Independent

£55 dementia diagnosis scheme sets 'dangerous precedent', claim doctors

£55 dementia diagnosis scheme sets 'dangerous precedent', claim doctors A group of leading doctors and patient advocates have said NHS plans to pay GPs £55 for every dementia diagnosis have set a “dangerous precedent” and should be scrapped. The Independent