More for less in the NHS?

By Gareth Wynne

This rather analytical briefing from the Audit Commission “looks at how NHS money has been spent, whether primary care trusts have been successful in keeping more patients out of hospital, and whether hospitals have become more efficient.”

Report demonstrates “that the NHS is treating more patients at lower cost and trusts are starting to meet the challenges of the future. It suggests NHS trusts are increasing productivity and reducing unit costs”.

Links in with our research work with NESTA to demonstrate the impact of radical efficiency – innovation in public services that leads to different and much better outcomes for users at significantly lower cost.  However, this looks more in space of efficiency than ‘radical’ efficiency.  Full report, for you numbers geeks, is available here.