My notes Block 15 Flashcards
The equality act 2010 offers protection to what 9 characteristics?
Age Race Sex Gender reassignment status Disability Religion or belief Sexual orientation Marriage and civil partnership status Pregnancy and maternity
What is direct age discrimination?
occurs when a direct difference in treatment based on age cannot be justified. A direct difference in treatment is a situation in which a person is, was or could be treated in a less favourable manner than another person in a comparable situation based on his/her age.
What is indirect discrimination?
occurs when a seemingly neutral provision, measure or practice has harmful repercussions on a person (…or group of persons)
What does the GMC say about age discrimination?
“You must not unfairly discriminate against patients or colleagues by allowing your personal viewsto affect your professional relationships or the treatment you provide or arrange…
This includes your views about a patient’s or colleague’s lifestyle, culture or their social or economic status, as well as the characteristics protected bylegislation: age, disability, gender reassignment, race, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.”
What is a QALY and how do we calculate them?
QALY-based assessments involve assigning a utility value (between zero and one) to a state of health and then multiplying that value by the number of years expected to be lived in that state.
e.g. Smith: 5 (yrs) x 0.5 QALY points = 2.5 QALYs
Jones: 5 (yrs) x 0.8 QALY points = 4.0 QALYs
The total value helps determine resource distribution.
What are some objections to QALY based assessments?
Difficulties relating to measurement and bias “pharmaceutical company funded studies were eight times less likely to reach unfavourable qualitative conclusions about drugs under investigation than comparable non-profit-funded studies”
Some object QALY-based assessments are unjust
Double-jeopardy objection
Does end of life care lose out??
Favours life years over individual lives
What is the case for QALY based assessments?
Addresses primary purpose of healthcare, which is about maximising welfare (=combination of quality and quantity of life).
Also might seem to be motivated at the individual patient level
QALY-based assessments are already utilised widely, including by NICE
How is the NHS funded?
80% general taxation
15% National Insurance
The rest from payments like for the dentist or prescriptions
What condition gets the most funding from the NHS proportionally?
Mental health
How is general practice funded?
In principle
Contractual arrangements between GPs and the NHS
Basis for payments:
Capitation – (weighted head count)
QOF (Quality Outcomes Framework – ‘points mean prizes’)
Enhanced services (e.g. vaccination)
How else could we fund a National Health service?
Out-of-pocket payments Social Insurance ‘European Model’ Required – earnings-related if in work Costs fall mainly on employment sector Private Insurance ‘US model’ May be paid by employers Otherwise met by patient Mixtures
Why is it good to get health insurance?
Health costs are unpredictable and potentially high
In the absence of perfect knowledge – spread the risk
What are the problems with insurance models?
Adverse selection- Private health insurance tends to be more expensive the more likely you are to need healthcare.
Moral hazard- A process whereby ‘insulating’ consumers from consequences of their actions increases demand.
Consumer moral hazard: taking extra risks as don’t pay for the consequence
Provider moral hazard: carry out un-needed work as will be paid anyway
How do we respond to issues with insurance models?
Adverse Selection
Universal insurance
Safety-nets
Moral hazard
Co-payments (for patients)
Guidelines
What is the definition of efficacy?
does the intervention work in a randomised controlled trial (RCT)?
What is the definition of effectiveness?
does it work in usual practice?
What is technical efficiency?
maximise production of goods or servicesmaximise production of goods or services
What is allocative efficiency?
production of most desired/worthwhile goods and services at least cost
What is opportunity cost?
Opportunity cost represents the benefit foregone by making the choice to use resources as you do.
What is a market?
Meeting point between potential consumers and providers