A new strategy to improve the quality of care by NHS
To improve the quality of care in the hospitals, a new strategy has been delivered by the National Health services(NHS) in Scotland- Scots nurses are entitled to spend more time with the patients. With this scheme rolled out to all health boards known as RTC- Releasing Time to Care, it will be seen that nurses would be spending more time with the patients rather than doing other tasks like searching for equipments.
The new strategy will act in accordance with the patients views as to how they were treated by the nurses. Hospitals which have piloted this scheme earlier had seen 40 per cent increase in the time nurses were involved in direct patient care. Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
“This programme is improving patient and staff experience, as well as efficiency and productivity. The Quality Strategy will put patients at the heart of everything the NHS does and give people a new confidence in the health service.”
This strategy however has brought about some concern for NHS; dearth of finances for what they want to deliver- safety, quality and efficiency of NHS care. Health boards will have to make savings of about £270 million this year, with putting projects on hold and some proposing job cuts.
Though the strategy recognizes the various challenges that has to be faced by NHS in the coming years, including obesity, ageing population, alcohol abuse and increased intelligence among the patients who then demand certain treatments; it also gives examples as to the possible savings for NHS. These includes reducing the use of agency nurses, bank and locum doctors and also stopping the use of various drugs and treatments that is considered low value when it comes to the benefits to patients.
A tremendous challenge taken by NHS, we hope that it lasts for long and achieve concrete benefits for patients who are surviving in such a difficult environment.