Journal of public health
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Journal of public health · Sep 2005
Are we on track - can we monitor bed targets in the NHS plan for England?
The NHS plan announced sustained increases in funding accompanied by wide ranging reform, the success of which would be measured by targets set across the board, including increases in numbers of beds, staff, hospitals and equipment. In this article we assess progress towards the target of 7,000 extra beds in hospitals and intermediate care to be achieved by 2004. Summary points are as follows. (1) Although the 2003/2004 target for availability of general and acute NHS beds in England was achieved, the increase did not offset the overall decrease in all categories of beds. Bed availability fell by 2083, from 1,86,290 in 1999/2000 to 1,84,207 in 2003/2004, following a fall of 12,558 from 1996/1997 to 1999/2000. (2) Lack of standardized definitions and data collection systems both within the NHS and for the independent sector, compounded by ambiguity over the funding of extra capacity for the NHS, call into question the accuracy of data collected about intermediate care beds. (3) Systems for collecting data about intermediate care should be made subject to the same code of practice as official NHS statistics in order to monitor future targets and plan for provision of care. (4) Changes in definitions, lack of detail about criteria used in setting targets and lack of data about private sector care, make it impossible to monitor the overall capacity available to the NHS and assess whether bed availability targets have been met.
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Journal of public health · Sep 2005
Observed and expected prevalence of permanent childhood hearing impairment in Oldham.
A perceived high prevalence of permanent childhood hearing impairment in Oldham, particularly in the Asian community, caused concern during the local implementation of the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme. ⋯ The clinical suspicion of a raised local prevalence of permanent childhood hearing impairment in Oldham was confirmed. The importance of using locally derived data when implementing national policy is emphasized.
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Journal of public health · Jun 2005
Comparative StudyDoes increased use of private health care reduce the demand for NHS care? A prospective survey of general practice referrals.
The use of the private sector for health care is increasing, but it is unclear whether this will reduce demand on the NHS. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between private and NHS outpatient referral rates accounting for their association with deprivation. ⋯ Increased private health care activity does not reduce the demand for NHS care: NHS and private referral rates were positively associated with each other after adjusting for age, deprivation and practice.
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Journal of public health · Jun 2005
Comparative StudyEvaluation of an independent, radiographer-led community diagnostic ultrasound service provided to general practitioners.
Health care services traditionally offered in a secondary setting are increasingly being offered in a primary setting. There has been little assessment of quality and efficiency of diagnostic services such as ultrasound delivered in primary settings and no studies have looked at independently provided services. ⋯ The community diagnostic ultrasound service offers reduced waiting times compared to the NHS Trust service, and is of comparable quality. This benefit, together with high patient and GP satisfaction levels, may justify the possible reduced cost-effectiveness of the service compared to the NHS Trust service.