From the Guardian · · 1m 30s
NHS could prevent 20,000 deaths yearly by cutting red tape
A Health Foundation report says the NHS in England could save £33bn and prevent thousands of early deaths by reducing regulation and boosting productivity.
In brief
A Health Foundation report says the NHS in England could save £33bn and prevent thousands of early deaths by reducing regulation and boosting productivity. The Health Foundation says the NHS in England could prevent 20,000 deaths and save £33bn yearly by cutting red tape, boosting productivity and harnessing new…
NHS could save billions by cutting red tape
The Health Foundation found the NHS in England could prevent 20,000 deaths and save £33bn a year by cutting red tape and boosting productivity.
Decades of regulation holding back the NHS
Research found the health service has been held back for decades by excessive regulation, short-term planning and insufficient capability to deliver major change.
Better outcomes without more spending
The report says the NHS could result in up to four extra years of good health for people on average by improving outcomes within funding already available.
“There is 'substantial scope to improve outcomes within the funding already available to the NHS'”
Focus on early diagnosis and detection
Preventing deaths would require focusing on diagnosing cancer earlier and finding people with high blood pressure or conditions such as diabetes quicker.
Productivity means better health outcomes
The report says productivity is not about making staff work harder but achieving better health outcomes from resources available. Poor IT, limited equipment and gaps in administrative support constrain healthcare.
“Productivity means achieving better health outcomes from the resources available.”
NHS needs fundamental redesign, not reorganisation
Anita Charlesworth, Health Foundation report author, says the NHS needs fundamental redesign of operating conditions to make improving productivity a defining focus over the next decade and beyond.
“The NHS is not set up to deliver sustained productivity growth.”
Here's the gist
The Health Foundation says the NHS in England could prevent 20,000 deaths and save £33bn yearly by cutting red tape, boosting productivity and harnessing new technology.
