Evidence for quality reform agenda 'sketchy', admits NHS chief
By Tom Ireland, 27 November 2009
Evidence that improving quality and efficiency alone can save the health service from the impending financial squeeze is 'sketchy,' according to NHS chief executive David Nicholson.
David Nicholson: described the approaching funding crisis as ‘absolutely unprecedented'
Speaking at the annual NHS medical directors' conference in London, Mr Nicholson described the approaching funding crisis as ‘absolutely unprecedented' and ‘10 times bigger' than the financial challenges of 2004 and 2005, when trusts had to overcome £1bn in deficits.
‘There is some evidence but it is sketchy about whether this can be done on a system-wide basis. We can't find anywhere else in the world where it has been done in this way. So it's a big challenge.'
The NHS Confederation estimates that efficiency savings of up to £20bn will need to be found between 2011 and 2014, just to keep up with zero growth.
Earlier DoH director of improvement and efficiency, Jim Easton, admitted evidence that driving up quality could save the NHS's finances was 'at best mixed' and ‘small-scale'.
Additional Information
Latest jobs Jobs web feed
- Salaried/Lead GPs Malling Health Competitive, role dependant, NHS Pension and defence fees reimbursed, Nationwide
- Salaried GP The Practice plc £75-85k FTE +NHS pension, Ely or Leicester
- Regional Clinical Leads The Practice plc Salary £95-105k FTE + NHS pension, Leicester or Sheffield
- Salaried GP St Peter's Hill Surgery Competitive, Grantham, Lincolnshire
- GP Locum - Cambridgeshire - March, Kings Lynn, Peterborough Agenda Medical Locums up to £650.00 per day, March, Cambridgeshire, South East England
- Salaried Single Handed GP, Kent, 8-9 Sessions per week + PDP, up to £90k + NHS Pension + MDU + PDP Global Medics Permanent UK Salary up to £90k for up to 9 sessions + NHS Pension + MDU + PDP, South East England, Kent
Most read
- Health secretary says GPs have 'ethical duty' to save NHS costs
- NHS Commissioning Board chairman rebuked for 'golf-playing GPs' jibe
- Government department sessions (where BMA 'Treasury rate' is accepted)
- GPs face 'outcomes targets overload', patient group warns
- DH could face legal challenge over risk register veto
- NICE to develop multimorbidity guidelines for GPs
Most commented
MIMS Drug Search
Possible searches include drugs (by brand, generic ingredient or drug class), diseases and more.
