Health expert dismisses “myth” of failing productivity
Released 13/02/2012
A leading health policy advisor has dismissed the myth that the NHS has become less productive as funding has increased
Black suggested that these statistics did not accurately reflect the advancements made in community-based services
Official figures to not accurately represent the improvements made in the NHS in England contrary to Government consensus, a leading health expert has claimed.
According to a report in the Lancet, the policy maker has stated that the assumption and flawed consensus has been used by the Government to defend its NHS reforms.
Prof Nick Black from the department of public Health and policy at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in London wrote that the quality of NHS healthcare in England "probably improved” from 2000 onwards.
“A review of a much wider range of data than was previously available suggests substantial improvements in the quality of health care,” he wrote.
This view contrasts with what Black calls the “myth” of declining productivity while Labour was still in power.
According to figures’ analysis from the Office of National Statistics, hospital productivity fell by 1.4% and overall productivity fell by 0.4% each year.
However, Black stated that these statistics did not accurately reflect the advancements made in community-based services, and so may have underestimated the work carried out by the NHS.
"A review of a much wider range of data than was previously available suggests substantial improvements in the quality of health care" stated Black, citing greater compliance to clinical guidelines, better mortality rates and public satisfaction.
Black believes that the myth of falling productivity took hold when the Labour party were still in power and has been poorly defended by the party since the last election.
"Despite warnings, estimates suggesting a decline in productivity were seized on by opponents of government policy, fuelled by journalists seeking bad news, “said Black. “Attempts by commentators in the medical press to point out the dangers of misinterpretation had little effect."
Health Minister Simon Burns said the government had always been clear that productivity in the NHS needed to improve.
"We are investing an additional £12.5bn in the NHS but we want to make every penny count," he said. "We know the NHS can meet this challenge. We have already made £7bn in efficiency savings over the last 18 months as performance has improved."
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said the analysis was "hugely embarrassing" for Prime Minister David Cameron, stating: "It demolishes an anti-NHS argument that Cameron and his ministers have repeatedly trotted out for their right-wing re-organisation."
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