IMPOWER Consulting’s Post

I wrote a short blog sharing my observations of discharge and patient flow in England's health and social care system vs Australia's. I found that in England a patient's journey can require crossing significantly more organisational interfaces. This is impacting effective patient flow and leads to limited hospital resources being taken up by people with no clinical need to be there. I also share my thoughts on potential approaches for system leaders to consider when trying to address these interface challenges.

A recent survey finds satisfaction with the NHS has drastically declined, reaching an all-time low of just 24% across England, Scotland, and Wales. The public's concerns predominantly revolve around lengthy waits for GP or hospital appointments, and a shortage of NHS staff. In these challenging times, it's essential to explore innovative solutions that can alleviate some of the pressures on our healthcare system. While technologies and services cannot single-handedly resolve these issues, they can contribute to a more efficient, responsive, and patient-centric healthcare experience. Read the full article: https://bit.ly/3VGqQ3M #Healthcare #PatientCare

"The power of autonomy and resilience in healthcare delivery" from The BMJ discusses how local autonomy and central control play out in healthcare settings, especially in light of the pandemic. It highlights the importance of staff being willing and able to exercise autonomy to realize the benefits of decentralization. The article emphasizes that autonomy can lead to improved resilience in healthcare workers, allowing them to adapt more flexibly to challenges and innovate in patient care. This is why clinician autonomy is at the heart of everything we do. A clinicial workforce free to meet the needs of patients and communities nationwide is what we are building. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ey2Zuugj #healthcare #medicalcare #nursingshortage

The Scottish Government is set to continue its drive to increase the amount of patients using NHS Scotland’s Hospital at Home service, with £3.6m of new funding. Figures show that nearly 15,000 older patients used the services last year, which is up by almost a quarter on the previous year. A total of 13 healthcare providers have been awarded a share of the new funding. The news comes as Healthcare Improvement Scotland publishes a new report on the impact of the country’s Hospital at Home services. It shows that: ⚪ 14,467 patients used the service in 2023—an increase from 11,686; ⚪ total bed numbers increased by 58%—ahead of the Scottish Government’s 50% target; ⚪ around £14.9m was saved in hospital admission costs; and ⚪ approximately £36.3m was saved in post-hospital care due to a reduction in re-admissions. “I am very pleased to see the progress that local health providers are making on delivering Hospital at Home services and the positive impact it is having, particularly on elderly patients,” said Scotland’s health secretary, Neil Gray. He added: “Hospital at Home gives people greater independence during their recovery. Evidence shows that those benefitting from the service are more likely to avoid hospital or care home stays for up to six months after an acute illness." Deborah Forster Rachel Connor Laura McIntosh Lianne Pipskyj Rebecca Robb Kelly Parish #ReedHealthandCare #NHS #NHSScotland #Healthcare

A Guide for NHS Employees: Tackling the Increasing Waiting List Crisis Working within the NHS is both a rewarding and challenging experience. With the increasing waiting list crisis, NHS employees are at the forefront of the battle to provide timely and effective healthcare services. In this blog, we'll explore strategies and approaches that NHS staff can adopt to help tackle the growing waiting list crisis and provide the best possible care to patients. Check it out now 👉 https://lnkd.in/ePhphKC2 #waitinglists #outpatients #patientexperience #nhs

💡 Private Hospitals Profit Amid NHS Struggles. As NHS waiting lists grow longer and longer, it's no surprise that many patients are looking to private healthcare for quick relief. In 2023, the private healthcare market in the UK soared to a staggering £12.4 billion. Alongside this, NHS spending on private sectors hit over £2 billion to help manage the backlog. Private healthcare providers such as Spire Healthcare and Circle Healthcare Group have seen immense growth. In 2023, their turnovers reached £1.3 billion and £1.18 billion respectively. The surge is not just limited to large firms; private clinics and individual practitioners accounted for £4.92 billion of the market's profit. This shift reveals a dependency on private providers to alleviate NHS pressures, despite planned increases in NHS funding. However, this boost for private hospitals raises crucial questions about the future landscape of UK healthcare. Is this reliance sustainable? Will increased NHS funding reduce this dependency? It's evident that for now, private healthcare plays a pivotal role in tackling wait times within the NHS. How can we ensure this partnership benefits all parties, especially patients? I'm keen to hear your thoughts. How do you see the balance between private and public healthcare evolving? Comment below or visit www.stroudresourcing.co.uk if you want to connect further. 🔍 #Healthcare #NHS #PrivateHospitals

Call Light Health is reinventing nurse staffing for a sustainable health care future. Health care systems are getting hit financially from every angle. These are just a couple of the alarming statistics highlighted in this article from Becker's Healthcare: https://lnkd.in/gRR6NCNy ❗️Hospital labor costs increased by more than $42.5 billion to $839 billion between 2021 and 2023 (this accounts for nearly 60% of the average hospital’s expenses) ❗️Hospitals spent $51.1 billion on contracted staff in 2023 We’re here to help. Read more about what we do here: https://lnkd.in/e9BAAmrk

Only 5% of care seekers think they're entitled to NHS continuing healthcare funding. As care costs continue to rise, families supporting loves ones with significant health needs need to get the best advice. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e53bCag7 #ContinuingHealthcare #CHC #NHSContinuingHealthcare

A Guide for NHS Employees: Tackling the Increasing Waiting List Crisis Working within the NHS is both a rewarding and challenging experience. With the increasing waiting list crisis, NHS employees are at the forefront of the battle to provide timely and effective healthcare services. In this blog, we'll explore strategies and approaches that NHS staff can adopt to help tackle the growing waiting list crisis and provide the best possible care to patients. Check it out > https://lnkd.in/ePhphKC2 #waitinglist #nhs #nhsengland

NHS Under Pressure: An inside look at how one of the UK's top-rated hospitals is managing unprecedented winter demands. With patients waiting 30 hours for beds and staff working tirelessly to maintain care standards, this BBC report highlights the real challenges facing our healthcare system. #NHS #Healthcare #WinterPressures