News / Professions unite over service pressures

THE HFMA, The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the NHS Confederation have urged the health service to ensure recent gains in quality, access and activity are not lost as it tackles the efficiency programme.

In a joint statement, the three bodies address how the health services across the UK can drive up quality and productivity while dealing with financial pressures. Action must be constructive and doctors involved in devising and implementing efficiency strategies.

Academy of Medical Royal Colleges chairman Professor Sir Neil Douglas said improvements in patient care could be achieved by involving all levels of healthcare professionals, general and financial managers, patients and the public in reshaping local services. ‘Efficient use of resources is the ally not the enemy of quality care,’ he added.

The organisations outlined common principles to help minimise the impact of tight finances – maintaining a focus on quality and effectiveness in disease prevention; delivering increased cost-effectiveness in clinical services; and ensuring productivity improvements support rather than undermine the quality of care.

But they stressed that cutting administration costs can only make a modest contribution to the economies needed across the NHS budget. ‘More of the productivity improvement will need to be through the reduction of variation in clinical practice, better and faster adoption of “right first time” interventions, ensuring the appropriate use of procedures of limited clinical value or through better design of patient pathways and the application of Lean management-style principles,’ the statement said.

Chris Calkin, former HFMA chair and clinical engagement lead, described a simplistic division of the health service into frontline and back office as ‘unhelpful’. Savings would be needed across the board.

‘Administrative costs can and will be reduced and there is major potential to reduce variation in clinical practice, spreading best practice and reducing costs. But to be successful we need clinicians and managers working side by side towards our common goal.'

NHS Confederation acting chief executive Nigel Edwards added: ‘The NHS is facing the greatest ever challenge to the way it works and the way it cares for patients. Now is the time for everyone working in our service to focus on how best to provide improvements in care while working more efficiently.’

Joint Statement - Download