The recent CHPO conference carried a clear message that AHPs can and should take the lead on the quality and productivity challenge.
NHS chief executive David Nicholson explained the need to drive up the quality of care while improving efficiency to prepare for an expected funding shortfall of £15-20 billion in 2011-14.
He highlighted the fact that AHPs often work at the interfaces between sectors, where most productivity quality is to be gained. “They are the places where patients get the rawest deal – where they get the duplication,” he said.
“They are the places that, traditionally, we have not been able to manage well, from a system point of view. And they are the very places where you do to significant – probably the majority – of your work.”
David also said that, as first contact practitioners, AHPs prevent admission and speed up discharge. These things will be crucial to making the necessary efficiency savings in the system, but will also be the key to ensuring a better quality patient experience.
'A golden opportunity'
Chief Health Professions Officer Karen Middleton talked about the need for AHPs to use their talents to drive forward the change that is needed. She described the economic situation as a ‘golden opportunity’ for AHPs, and noted that a sense of urgency is needed in order to meet the economic challenge.
The quality and productivity challenge is being kicked off with a project to identify best practice in the NHS. Quality and Productivity: Establishing the Evidence will collate all of the available evidence for how to improve quality and productivity, and develop new evidence to fill gaps. A website will launch this month, containing an initial selection of the best evidence available.
To read a report of the recent AHPF productivity summit, download the AHP Bulletin.
