Releasing Resources to Achieve Health Gain

In every developed country, health care managers, clinicians, purchasers and providers are having to extract greater output from cash-limited resources. This book reviews a wide range of areas of current concern together with the practical experience of those responsible for improvement and change. The opportunities and pitfalls they identify should stimulate innovation and fresh ideas in those faced with similar situations.

Christopher Riley, Morton Warner, Amanda Pullen

Part One: Focusing Clinical Activity on Outcomes 1. Overview 2. Use of diagnostic imaging resources 3. Audit of x-ray referrals from a general practice 4. Pathology services 5. Rational prescribing in primary health care 6. Asthma: An outcome-focused audit 7. Appropriate prescribing in hospitals 8. Achieving change by stealth 9. Commissioning appropriate alcohol services Part Two: Acting Now to Prevent Later Problems 10. Overview 11. Antenatal care patterns: Horses for courses 12. Mothers as partners in antenatal care 13. Preventing low birth weight 14. Value for money in health promotion 15. Health promoting hospitals in Europe 16. Shifting the focus in dental care 17. Podiatric surgery: Early interventions in foot health care 18. Psychological aspects of early treatment interventions 19. Tertiary preventive programmes Part Three: Doing Things Differently 20. Overview 21. Supporting self-care: The buck stops here 22. The community pharmacist 23. Health promotion and self-care in later life 24. Benefits of additional staff in primary care 25. Nursing resources in primary care 26. Social and health care integration in Lyme Regis 27. Integrated care for asthma 28. Tracking the financial shifts 29. An alternative to the asylum 30. Physiotherapy in general practice