Home care better for NHS patients

Home care better for NHS patients

• 29 December 2011
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Mike Farrar, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, has spoken out on the need to shift care away from hospitals in order for the NHS to attain its efficiency targets.

Mr Farrar said: “Hospitals play a vital role, but we do rely on them for some services which could be provided elsewhere.

“We should be concentrating on reducing hospital stays where this is right for patients, shifting resources into community services…and promoting early intervention and self-care.”

His sentiments highlight the need for innovation in the NHS.  Services such as Manchester Royal Infirmary’s home dialysis services, which provides patients with the skills and equipment to undergo dialysis in their homes and thus reduces the need for kidney failure patients to regularly visit hospital for treatment, vastly improves efficiency in the NHS.

Read the full story on the BBC News page.