Patients will soon be able to see information about how local hospitals and primary care organisations are providing new treatments, according to the latest government proposals.
Every hospital and trust will be rated by an "innovation scorecard" allowing the public to compare the speed at which NHS hospitals roll out new care methods and drugs.
The scheme is intended to prevent "postcode prescribing" – where some areas and trusts provide certain treatments and others do not. A recent report found that more than 70% of NHS trusts ignored guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (Nice) to offer infertile couples three chances at IVF, and some stopped funding treatment altogether.
The Department of Health says that under the scheme, "the NHS will have no excuse not to provide the latest Nice-approved drugs and treatments". But what will this mean for the NHS and the way in which new treatments are administrated? Recent statistics published by the National institute for Health Research (NIHR) revealed that hospitals "have made a significant step-change in their research activity", however what more can be done?
Do hospitals and trusts need to up their game under the new proposals, and, if so, how? Is better exchange of best practice the way forward? And how can NHS leaders manage a culture change to push more innovative research and projects forward?
Join us from noon until 2pm on Wednesday 19 September, along with our panel of experts to discuss all this and more. You can also leave your questions below ahead of the discussion, or tweet us at @GdnHealthcare.
Guardian Professional.
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