NHS Resources and Patient Rights Flashcards
Why has the NHS become over stretched?
The success in the healthcare system has resulted in people living longer and therefore have the potential to become more ill more often and therefore consume more resources.
Name the strategies for resource allocation
- Equal access to treatment,
- Rationing according to clinical need,
- Maximising health gains (QALY)
- Discriminating according to age.
- Taking individual responsibility for health into account.
- Rationing according to ability to pay.
- Singling out certain types of excluded treatment.
- Dilution of care.
- Random allocation.
What is QALY?
Quality adjusted life year. It takes quality of life x life expectancy (before + after) and then cost it.
What are some of the disadvantages of QALY?
Beneficial, efficient but is takes quantity and quality over the welfare of the patient.
Describe NICE’s role in technology appraisal and resource allocation
It provides evidence based guidance and advice. Four technology appraisal recommendations are possible;
- Recommended for use in NHS,
- Restricted use to certain categories of patients,
- Use of confined to clinical trials,
- Should not be used in NHS
What are some of the criticism of NICE’s technology appraisal?
- Status guidelines ambiguous,
- Implementation is variable,
- Topic selection is random
What is the Scottish medicines consortium’s role?
- Source of advice on the clinical and cost effectiveness of new medicines. It evaluates whether the benefits for patients may be considered an acceptable use of NHS resources.
What is the possible decisions of the SMC?
Accepted, accepted with restrictions or not recommended
What are some of the controversial uses of the healthcare budget?
- Treatment to assist reproduction,
- Cosmetic surgery,
- Long-term nursing for elderly,
- Health education in schools,
- Provision of traffic-calming measures,
- Reversal of sterilisation
