Author: Great Britain: National Audit OfficePublisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780102980547
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 52
Book Description
The Department of Health has reported that the NHS achieved £5.8 billion of savings in 2011-12, virtually all of the forecast total of £5.9 billion. Most of the savings were generated through the pay freeze for public sector staff, and reductions in the prices primary care trusts pay for healthcare. NHS bodies also made savings by cutting back-office costs. However, there is limited assurance that all the reported savings were achieved. The NAO substantiated a total of £3.4 billion of NHS efficiency savings. Although the savings made by NHS providers as a percentage of operating costs are increasing, it is not clear what level of savings is sustainable over time. Changes to transform services take time to implement and the Department has always expected that these savings will predominantly come in the latter half of the four-year period. The NHS is seeking to maintain the quality of, and access to, healthcare at the same time as making efficiency savings. In 2011-12, the NHS performed well against headline indicators of quality, including waiting times and healthcare associated infection rates. The indicators focus mainly on hospital care and the Department faces a significant challenge in monitoring quality across the NHS as a whole. The Department does not know whether the demand for healthcare is being managed in ways that inappropriately restrict patients' access to care. Reducing demand and redesigning care pathways to treat patients in the most appropriate setting are key ways of generating savings
