A perfect storm is on the horizon. Health systems around the world are exposed to the destabilizing forces of macroeconomic headwinds. This fluctuation has increased pressure on health systems to pursue cost containment measures. However, these measures are short-term solutions and may not provide positive benefits to the system or patients in the long term.
The end result is a skeleton health service run by a depleted and exhausted workforce. However, patients’ unmet needs, preferences, and expectations continue to grow.
The challenge is that evidence-based improvements are often overshadowed by austerity measures. Healthcare providers may be forced to make trade-offs between providing seamless and efficient services to improve the patient experience, or providing minimal services to make ends meet.
Policy makers, governments, and health systems of all shapes and sizes may find this challenge to deliver on the seemingly contradictory priorities of improving patient experiences, reducing costs, and running services more efficiently. yeah. However, this is not impossible. Done right, seemingly opposing approaches can be mutually reinforcing.
All.Can is an international, multi-stakeholder, non-profit initiative focused on identifying inefficiencies in cancer care. All.Can has recently relaunched in the UK and is currently funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS). All.Can UK is a dedicated branch contributing to this global effort, focusing on connecting the dots between improving system efficiency, patient experience and health outcomes.
Ultimately, we must understand that improving the patient experience, improving clinical outcomes, and achieving greater system efficiency are all inherently interconnected and mutually reinforcing. .
At All.Can UK, we believe this is important. As health systems face significant budget pressures, they are at risk of neglecting the patient experience in their quest to do more with less. Not only is this bad for patients, but it is also a false economy. If appropriate support is not put in place early, depending on the patient’s wishes, there is an increased likelihood of clinical deterioration and the patient later returning to the system via unplanned and more costly routes. Become.[1]
Ultimately, we must understand that improving the patient experience, improving clinical outcomes, and achieving greater system efficiency are all inherently interconnected and mutually reinforcing. .[2] If you take one out of the equation, the others fall out as well. Previous research commissioned by BMS has already highlighted this in terms of workforce capacity, with evidence showing that patient outcomes, safety and experience suffer when staff are overburdened. is shown.[3]
All.Can has worked to pave the way forward for health systems facing these difficult dilemmas, both at the global and national level. With this in mind, All.Can UK set out to explore the important role the third sector can play in providing support to cancer patients and their systems.
Initial estimates from analysis commissioned by the group, highlighted in a report published today, show conservative savings for the NHS of £40.7 million a year as a result of third sector support delivered directly to patients. The amount is outlined.
Initial estimates from analysis commissioned by the group, highlighted in a report published today, show conservative savings for the NHS of £40.7 million a year as a result of third sector support delivered directly to patients. The amount is outlined.[4] All services considered in the analysis were complementary to clinical interventions and helped improve the overall cancer care experience, outcomes, and system efficiency.
The caveat to this, of course, is that the third sector lacks resources and is therefore not a panacea for the many challenges facing health systems. That’s why we are acting on our ambition to introduce an integrated system of care by bringing together partner organizations around a broad definition of what constitutes a health system and recognizing charities as key players in healthcare delivery. you need to start. The UK has an opportunity to achieve truly integrated care, with all organizations pulling in the same direction for the benefit of patients. All.Can UK report uses evidence of the contribution of the third sector to show that improving the patient experience with integrated support can prevent further downstream costs*. This in turn positively contributes to reducing inefficiencies in the system and ultimately helps save the NHS money.
The All.Can UK analysis is the first step towards establishing a cost-constrained health economy. It brings hope, especially to those facing trade-offs. This includes, for example, skeleton services (which have been shown to increase waiting lists and risks to patient safety) and potentially drive significant improvements in areas that are often seen as non-essential. This may include choosing whether to provide comprehensive support interventions. Increased efficiency for both patients and systems.
The All.Can UK analysis is the first step towards establishing a cost-constrained health economy. It brings hope, especially to those facing trade-offs.
Similar projects underway elsewhere in the cancer patient pathway are partnerships with BMS, Macmillan Cancer Support and a range of NHS facilities to develop pre-rehabilitation programs in non-surgical settings such as immunotherapy and is being developed on a trial basis.
Pre-rehabilitation is a process that helps cancer patients prepare for treatment, effectively acting as secondary prevention. This includes advice, assistance and interventions to improve diet and lifestyle, increase physical activity and provide psychological support for mental health. Pre-rehabilitation usually helps shorten the length of hospital stay and reduce the risk of emergency readmission.
As the burden on cancer services increases, these pilots will demonstrate the capacity and service uptake benefits of introducing pre-rehabilitation ‘at scale’. By reducing unplanned demands and freeing up staff time and capacity, more resources are available to begin the treatment process for new patients waiting to begin treatment.
Pre-rehabilitation also helps make effective use of the waiting time between receiving a cancer diagnosis and starting treatment, supporting patients to “wait well” and assisting patients with urgent and time-sensitive cancer treatment. Bring forward the point at which patients interact with expert support and care about the pathway. Initial trials are also exploring the provision of pre-rehabilitation via digital healthcare, which could further support the broader process of route optimization.
The examples highlighted above and in All.Can UK’s new report demonstrate that improving the experience of cancer patients and providing more efficient care does not have to be an ‘either/or’ scenario. is showing.
If successful, the expansion of these pilots will improve patients’ ability to receive and benefit from innovative cancer treatments by preparing patients for treatment, while delivering significant cost savings to the NHS. This will be an opportunity to significantly improve.
The examples highlighted above and in All.Can UK’s new report demonstrate that improving the experience of cancer patients and providing more efficient care does not have to be an ‘either/or’ scenario. is showing.
All.Can UK is now seeking expert opinion across the health system and policy to chart a clear path forward to square the health system’s circle towards the seemingly impossible.
Read All.Can UK’s new report and find out more about the group, including how to get in touch, below. click here.*
Preparation date: November 2023
Job number: ONC-GB-2300480
*Please note that when you click on this link, you will be redirected to the All.Can website sponsored by BMS.
[1] NHS England (2017). Improving people’s own health and care: Legal guidance for clinical commissioning groups and his NHS in England. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ppp-involving-people-health-care-guidance.pdf (Accessed November 2023).
[2] Doyle C., et al. (2013). A systematic review of the evidence regarding the association between patient experience and clinical safety and effectiveness. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3549241/ (Accessed November 2023).
[3] BMS (2022). Transforming cancer outcomes in the UK: clearing backlogs, building capacity and building services for tomorrow: https://www.bms.com/gb/about-us/transforming-cancer-outcomes-in-the -uk-clearing -the-backlog-improving-capacity-and-building-services-for-tomorrow.html (accessed November 2023).
[4] All.Can entrust data, available on file.
