31 August 2007
Northern Ireland's hospitals spend £31m more a year than they need to, compared with the unit costs of their English NHS equivalents, according to reviews conducted for Northern Ireland's Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
Belfast's Royal Group hospitals should reduce their unit costs through comprehensive discharge planning, the use of pre-operative assessment and reductions in cancelled operations and staff absenteeism, suggests an analysis by PA Consulting.
High unit costs at the Royal hospitals were identified as a major factor in overall higher costs of Northern Ireland health care in the review of efficiency carried out by Professor John Appleby of the King's Fund.
The Royal Group comprises four hospitals – Royal Victoria, Royal Jubilee Maternity Service, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and the Dental Hospital – and is the largest hospital campus in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: 'The findings clearly show that progress has been made over the past few years, but that there is further scope for improved efficiency.' He added: 'This is a direct rule legacy and as the new minister I am determined to change this.'
Appleby also suggested a review of costs at Belfast's Green Park hospital, but detailed analysis now reveals there is no unit cost variance between it and English specialist orthopaedic hospitals.
But the latest report recommends efficiencies at Green Park through comprehensive discharge planning, the use of pre-operative assessments, better management information and reducing variations in the use of resources by consultants.
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