New projects help cut NHS waiting times in Lanarkshire

Nov 25 2009 by Lynda Nicol, East Kilbride News

A SERIES of efficiency projects in Lanarkshire hospitals is helping ensure more same-day surgery, shorter waiting times and quicker discharges for patients.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon visited NHS Lanarkshire on Monday to hear more about four major projects which are already providing benefits for patients.

In addition, they are expected to save £2 for every £1 invested.

These are:

l A 15 per cent increase in orthopaedic operations across Lanarkshire through a series of improvements such as cutting change-over time between operations.

l An extra 42 cataract operations per month at Hairmyres Hospital, by increasing the average number of patients on each daily list from five to six.

l Same-day admissions more than doubled at Monklands Hospital, Airdrie, up from 35 to 76 per cent – thanks to more rigorous assessment practice to see which patients can be admitted the same day.

The Lanarkshire project is one of scores of different schemes running across Scotland under the NHS's Efficiency Programme, which has saved the health service £300 million in 2008/09.

Projects have been set up in every part of the NHS to help achieve £646m efficiency savings in three years.

In the last financial year NHS Lanarkshire saved £19.3m – considerably more than the target of £15.2m.

During her visit to Monklands Hospital, the Health Secretary met with staff at the hospital's in-house pharmacy, where streamlining the supply of drugs and re-organising staff rotas has resulted in:

l More than two-thirds of patients being discharged now going home with their medication within an hour – up from 42 per cent.

l Eighty-seven per cent of rarely-used drugs are on the ward within two hours – up from 36 per cent.

l Average turn-around time to get regularly-used medicines from the pharmacy to the ward is now less than an hour – down from almost three-and-a-half hours.

l New tracking systems to monitor the return of unused medicines leading to increased patient safety.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Re-organising the pharmacy service at Monklands is one example of how small changes are making a big difference for patients across Lanarkshire.

"Faster drug deliveries mean patients get home quicker, with the right medication.

“Not only is that good news for patients, it frees up beds and allows resources to be used more efficiently, which is good news for the health service.

"Together with more cataract operations being carried out at Hairmyres, and increased productivity in orthopaedic surgery, it is a direct benefit for patients and more efficient for the health service.

"It is a great example of the sort of benefits which can be achieved for patients through greater efficiency.

"I am impressed that NHS Scotland have saved £300m in 08/09.

“But this project reminds us that efficiency isn't just about saving money.”

And Ms Sturgeon concluded: “It is about delivering the best possible service for patients."