The NHS could save
millions and provide better care by involving more Allied Health
Professionals such as podiatrists in patient care.
Physiotherapists, dietitians, podiatrists, speech and language
therapists and other Allied Health Professionals can have a
dramatic impact on care for people with diabetes, cancer,
musculoskeletal problems and stroke survivors. Using podiatrists
to help treat patients with diabetes can lead to a drop in foot
ulcers – a serious complication for diabetics – and distressing
foot amputations. There are almost 5,000 leg, foot or toe
amputations in England every year – each one costs the NHS around
£65,000. Investing in providing integrated foot care and bringing
this number down could save the NHS almost £300 million.
By working together as a team, physiotherapists, speech and
language therapists and dietitians can help stroke survivors
regain independence faster and leave hospital and go home sooner.
This could save the NHS over £7 million every year.
A new series of online tools, launched today, will help the NHS
identify how therapists can intervene at different stages of a
patient’s condition to improve patient care whilst saving on
costs.
Health Minister, Lord Howe said:
“Allied Health Professionals play a critical role in ensuring
patients get integrated care so they recover quickly after
treatment or can manage a long term condition successfully. Better
integration of care is one of the key elements in the Health and
Social Care Bill - not only does it improve the quality of patient
care, but it can also save the NHS money.
“These online tools highlight some excellent examples of when and
how Allied Health Professionals involvement can work and will help
commissioners pinpoint opportunities for better integration of care”.
Shelia Stringer, Senior Physiotherapist and
service manager at the Royal Wolverhampton Hospital NHS Trust
said:
"Although this was developed as a tool for commissioners
it is so much more. It is a one stop shop of information and
evidence that I hope will promote local discussions amongst all
clinicians on how we can improve services for out patients and
deliver the savings the NHS needs to achieve."
Richard Evans, Chief Executive of the Society and
College of Radiographers said:
“AHPs in all their diversity have a vast amount to offer any
healthcare system. In the UK it is it is very important that those
who buy healthcare for patients fully understand what AHPs can
provide in terms of improving the quality of care."
The online tools provide case studies and examples from local NHS
services who have made changes to services to optimise savings
whilst ensuring the best quality of care for patients. Salford
Royal NHS FT reorganised their foot care pathway for people with
diabetes which included annual screening, a preventative foot care
service for patients and education programmes making a potential
saving of more than £1 million over four years. The Stroke REACH
Early Discharge Scheme (Stroke REDS) in Camden, London was
developed to provide seamless transfer of care from the hospital
to the patient’s home reducing the average length of stay in
hospital leading to a potential £307,000 in acute bed day costs.
Notes to Editors
For further information, please contact the Department of Health
press office on 020 7210 5221.
Full list of Allied Health Professionals:
Physiotherapy, speech and language therapists, art, music and
dramatherapists, paramedics, orthoptists, orthotists and
prosthetists, occupational therapists, dietitians, diagnostic and
therapeutic radiographers.
The toolkits can be seen at: http://www.networks.nhs.uk/nhs-networks/ahp-networks/ahp-qipp-toolkits
Case Studies from the toolkits
Up to 4800 people with diabetes undergo leg, foot or toe
amputation each year in England, which are probably preventable.
Salford Royal NHS FT reorganised their foot care pathway for
people with diabetes, which included annual screening, a
preventative foot care service for patients and education
programmes run by the staff. Their programme resulted in a 16%
fall in number of amputations per 100,000 and number of foot
ulcers fell from 900 (2006) to 600 (2010) making a saving of more
than a million over four years.
Over 130,000 people have a stroke or mini-stroke each year and
at least 300,000 people a year living with moderate to severe
disabilities as a result of stroke. Rehabilitation after a stroke
is vital to ensure the survivor regains as much independence as
possible. The Stroke REACH Early Discharge Scheme (Stroke REDS) in
Camden, London was developed too meet the needs of Camden stroke
survivors. The early discharge scheme (EDS) aimed to provide
seamless transfer of care from the hospital to the patients home.
The team made up of professionals who specialise in stroke
rehabilitation include speech and language therapist,
physiotherapists and dieticians; provide care and support to
ensure the stroke survivor regains as much independence as
possible. From January 2009 to December 2009 the team had
discharged and rehabilitated 57 in 12 months reducing the average
length of stay in hospital by 10 days leading to a potential
£307,000 in acute bed day costs.
Malnutrition costs the UK health economy around £13 billion
every year. Improving the identification and treatment of
malnutrition is estimated to have the third highest potential to
deliver cost savings in the NHS.
Two NHS Trusts in London have changed the way they work to reduce
the number of patients suffering from malnutrition. Both Outer
North East London Community Services and NHS East London and the
City employed new specialist dieticians to change the way patients
at risk of malnutrition are treated and make sure that nutritional
supplements are more appropriately prescribed.
Better and more appropriate treatment for patients at risk of
malnutrition has meant the NHS in London have saved an additional
£2 million.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk