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Simple steps 'could save NHS £5bn' Simple steps 'could save NHS £5bn'
(about 1 hour later)
The NHS in England could save £5bn a year with improved staff organisation and a better approach to purchasing everyday items, a review will say. The NHS in England could save £5bn a year with improved staff organisation and a better approach to purchasing, a review will say.
Lord Carter came to the conclusion after spending a year working with 22 hospitals on behalf of the government.Lord Carter came to the conclusion after spending a year working with 22 hospitals on behalf of the government.
He found a wide variation in spending on items, from aprons to latex gloves. He found a wide variation in spending across medicines, everyday items and on facilities, such as heating.
He also identified huge inefficiencies in the way staff were managed, with one hospital losing £10,000 a month through workers claiming too much leave.He also identified huge inefficiencies in the way staff were managed, with one hospital losing £10,000 a month through workers claiming too much leave.
The report, which will be published in full later, will also say hospitals need to make better use of staff through flexible working and better rostering.The report, which will be published in full later, will also say hospitals need to make better use of staff through flexible working and better rostering.
Meanwhile, better use of medicines could also have a substantial impact, the efficiency review will say. Meanwhile, better use of medicines could also have a substantial impact, the efficiency review said.
Pricey gloves
Lord Carter found one hospital had managed to save £40,000 a year by using non-soluble versions of a tablet for liver failure that cost 2p instead of the soluble versions at £1.50.Lord Carter found one hospital had managed to save £40,000 a year by using non-soluble versions of a tablet for liver failure that cost 2p instead of the soluble versions at £1.50.
Some hospitals could also save hundreds of thousands of pounds by reviewing their spending on basic items, he will say. He also said major savings could be made on everyday items such as syringes and aprons with prices varying by as much as a third.
Latex gloves costing £5.44 a box in one hospital were bought for £2.39 in another. Aprons cost one hospital £2.51 each, but another paid £4.20. The review recommended a single electronic catalogue be created for the purchasing of such goods.
Savings in numbers
Lord Carter also found that hip operations were costing some parts of the NHS more than double the amount they should.Lord Carter also found that hip operations were costing some parts of the NHS more than double the amount they should.
And the hips used did not last as long as less expensive versions, meaning patients needed more replacements and follow-up care.And the hips used did not last as long as less expensive versions, meaning patients needed more replacements and follow-up care.
That difference costs the NHS up to £17m extra every year.That difference costs the NHS up to £17m extra every year.
Lord Carter said the gains could be "significant".Lord Carter said the gains could be "significant".
"We found some extremely good hospitals, some very efficient hospitals, but there are a number of hospitals that are not as good as they need to be," he said."We found some extremely good hospitals, some very efficient hospitals, but there are a number of hospitals that are not as good as they need to be," he said.
'Long-standing issue''Long-standing issue'
Following publication of this report, Lord Carter will publish a template for an efficient "model hospital" during the summer followed by a report by September in which he and the Department of Health will set out what each hospital is expected to save by putting in place the report's recommendations.Following publication of this report, Lord Carter will publish a template for an efficient "model hospital" during the summer followed by a report by September in which he and the Department of Health will set out what each hospital is expected to save by putting in place the report's recommendations.
Nuffield Trust chief executive Nigel Edwards said: "Lord Carter is right that there is waste within the health service and that enormous savings could be made through standardisation.Nuffield Trust chief executive Nigel Edwards said: "Lord Carter is right that there is waste within the health service and that enormous savings could be made through standardisation.
"But this has been a long-standing issue in the NHS. Spending public money better has been the holy grail of public-sector spending reductions over the past 20 years."But this has been a long-standing issue in the NHS. Spending public money better has been the holy grail of public-sector spending reductions over the past 20 years.
"Diagnosing the problem is the easy bit. Getting solutions to stick is much, much harder.""Diagnosing the problem is the easy bit. Getting solutions to stick is much, much harder."
But Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers - which represents every variety of hospital trust - told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the NHS had worked "incredibly hard" over the last five years to save £20bn.But Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers - which represents every variety of hospital trust - told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the NHS had worked "incredibly hard" over the last five years to save £20bn.
He added: "There is no organisation in this country that could not do better in terms of improving efficiency. In large complex organisations it's always possible to do things better."He added: "There is no organisation in this country that could not do better in terms of improving efficiency. In large complex organisations it's always possible to do things better."