Allocative efficiency in the downturn: Is it possible to 'disinvest' in existing health services and programmes?

The last in the NHS Confederation’s strong 2009 policy salon series addressed whether health economic techniques of allocative efficiency, public engagement and the voluntary sector can give the NHS clues about how and where to make some disinvestment decisions. Coming before NICE’s recent publication on how to support world-class commissioning, the ideas explored could offer a QDOS (quick and dirty operating system) approach to world-class decommissioning.

I'm Bach.

No, hang, on, that's not right - I'm back.

And bloody hell. I leave you alone with the NHS for five minutes while I go and do some work, and what happens?

FTs start topping their patients (again).

NHS Employers has released ‘Leading the NHS workforce through to recovery’ today at their annual conference.

The report emphasises the need for an intelligent approach to workforce management during the downturn. Its five main 'employer's checklist' principles (full list below) are:
(1) Start planning now. NHS trust and PCT boards need to put a workforce strategy in place that takes a long-term view of both immediate and upcoming challenges.

I've just been reading David Cameron’s latest health speech, looking for anything interesting in it.

There’s a hearty endorsement of Andrew Lansley, which is of note: “Nobody is better placed to bring about this change to the NHS than Andrew. He has an exceptionally detailed knowledge of his brief … a cast-iron determination to reform and improve the NHS … and a deep understanding of what the health service and its values mean for this country”.

Good afternoon.

Last Friday's Times had this story that the Cabinet has agreed to press forward legislation guaranteeing that patients exceeding NHS waiting time targets will be treated privately, to be included in the next Queen's Speech.

The article suggests that patients who are in danger of breaching maximum times (18 weeks for elective care, and two for cancer) would have to be informed of their legal and enforceable right to choose another provider - including independent providers.

Hello. We have a fresh shot of Maynard Doctrine for you today.

We also have another step in the death of the government with the stupid and vain (in both senses) dismissal of Professor David Nutt of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

Alan Johnson was not wrong about his lack of leadership calibre. Pity. At one point, I thought he might have some.

In the latest of the NHS Confederation’s policy salon series, speakers from the Institute for Government and KPMG led a discussion on opportunities from putting together funding streams across the public sector and for more integrated working.

The Institute for Government is a new independent, non-aligned organisation seeking to promote more effective government (and opposition) and civil and public service.

I'm really busy today, and haven't time to write much, so would recommend a couple of other things for you to read.

The first is from Professor David Colquhoun's Improbable Science blog, on the subject of queueing theory and ITU beds. It is superb, clearly written and very comprehensible. Best wishes to him for his forthcoming operation.

Managing demand in the downturn – thinking the unthinkable, held last Thursday, was the latest in the NHS Confederation’s policy salon series looked at what demand management may be possible in recessionary times. The previous session was on Payment By Results in the economic downturn.

Hello. Son and heir's birthday today, so this is a quickie and the full report from yesterday's engaging NHS Confederation seminar will have to wait.