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The Patients Association welcomes the recommendations of the Carter Review which calls for greater transparency within the NHS to improve patient care and help drive down costs. 

In his report, Lord Carter calls on hospitals to reduce delayed discharge, currently costing NHS services £900 million a year, and end the stark variations in quality of care and costs of treatments and equipment. Over 18 months of investigation, Lord Carter also found significant variation in infection rates across a number of different trusts. Lord Carter wants trusts to work closely with neighbouring hospitals to encourage the standardisation of the best procedures and consistent prices for treatments and equipment.

Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive of the Patients Association said:

“Lord Carter has made a number of vital recommendations in his review. The Patients Association is particularly concerned to see the huge costs caused by delayed discharge from hospital. Not only does this put a strain on services, but it causes unnecessary suffering for patients when they cannot be discharged. There must be investment in community and intermediate care services, which will release hospital resources and offer patients more humane and dignified treatment. 

“Increasing the transparency of infection rates and cost of treatments will enable hospitals to improve procedures and pay a consistent nationwide price for quality equipment. Through our work at the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Patient Safety, the Patients Association has seen how the threat posed by hospital infections and antimicrobial resistance continues to increase. It is vital that all Trusts have the information and funding needed to ensure that they have a safe level of highly trained and motivated staff to offer truly patient-centred care. There is currently too much variation across NHS services, making it a postcode lottery for patients and staff.

“The Patients Association hopes that these recommendations will be embraced across the health and care services. This Review must be used to address the waste and disjointed working practices found across the NHS. It is completely unjustified that patients are subjected to such disparate standards of care across NHS Trusts. Patients need a health service that is truly accountable and transparent, and that can deliver safe and effective care from cradle to grave.”

View Lord Carter’s report:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/498163/Operational_productivity_review.pdf

Notes to Editors: 

The Patients Association is an independent national health and social care charity established over 52 years ago, which has a long history of campaigning to ensure that the voice of patients is heard within the UK Health and Social care system.

For further information please contact Matthew Tisi, Communications & Public Affairs Officer, on 020 8423 9111, or email matthew@patients-association.com or call 07779 004898. 

Visit our website at www.patients-association.org.uk