Tag Archives: Commissioning

Audit The stage was set by Professor Theresa McDonagh (King’s College, London) who showed how the National Heart Failure Audit can be used as a tool to support business case development. Professor McDonagh highlighted that “data is power”. She discussed how the audit allows service providers to demonstrate to commissioners the potential gains that can be made by providing adequate services for patients admitted to hospital. In particular, the audit highlights how the best outcomes are achieved for patients who are admitted to hospital under the care of cardiologists and are subsequently followed up by a cardiologist. The next step, once

Bureaucracy The mortality rate for heart failure remains unchanged with 11.6% of heart failure (HF) admissions dying as inpatients, and 33% mortality at around one year, according to the most recent data from the National Heart Failure Audit.  This was presented to the meeting by Professor Theresa McDonagh (King’s College Hospital, London). Data collection continues to improve with 85% of NHS trusts submitting data over the preceding 12 month period, she said.  Access to cardiology services was associated with improved outcomes and a higher usage of evidence-based therapy and subsequent access to outpatient HF services. The likely challen

Navigating the changing landscape of cardiovascular commissioning A clear majority (58%) of GPs with a special interest in cardiology (GPSIs) feel unprepared to fulfill a commissioning role in the new NHS landscape, despite almost half of GPs being currently involved in commissioning, according to results from the REACCT (REAssessing Cardiology Commissioning and Treatment) report announced at the meeting. The report also reveals that a majority of cardiologists (57%) feel unprepared to take on new commissioning roles around the management of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The report (available from: www.pccs.org.uk/report) was written by the P

This document has been produced by Commissioning Support for London, an organisation established by the capital’s 31 primary care trusts (PCTs), in response to Lord Darzi’s 2007 report which found that while there is excellence in healthcare in London, this excellence is not provided equally across the capital. The cardiovascular project has been split into three areas of work each with key objectives: Vascular services – specialist and emergency vascular services Cardiac surgery – all cardiac surgery, except paediatrics and transplants Cardiology – emergency and complex interventional cardiology procedures. The project is clinica