Healthcare delivery
forced to take less demanding work, reducing their earning potential. Long-term sickness can also severely impact education, which in turn reduces opportunities in later life. Latest data suggests that more than 40,000 working-age adults are beginning a disability benefits claim each month. This is expected to cost the UK nearly £16bn in higher welfare spending and lost tax revenues a year in 2023/24. The flexibility and convenience of clinical homecare can help people to retain a normal life. In the Best Kept Secret report, 62% of people on clinical homecare reported that receiving healthcare in this way has allowed them to stay in work or education. Conversely, 39% of those who don’t use clinical homecare reported that various in-person appointments have had a negative impact on their ability to work or stay in education. Geographic location can pose significant barriers to accessing healthcare services. The Best Kept Secret report shows that roughly 75,000 clinical homecare patients live at least 20 miles away from their nearest hospital, requiring a minimum 40-mile round trip for healthcare. Within this number, 40,000 people live more than 30 miles from a hospital, meaning they are saved the 60-mile round trips that would be otherwise needed. Extended travel can adversely affect people’s health and well-being. Clinical homecare can help overcome these barriers, enhancing accessibility for patients and addressing existing inequalities. Clinical homecare can also give healthcare
professionals the opportunity to identify potential safety concerns. In the Best Kept Secret report 78% of survey respondents who receive treatment at home reported that the healthcare professional (HCP) who administers their treatment takes time to make sure they are feeling alright. A further 79% reported that their HCP ensures they have everything that they need. Patients receiving clinical homecare are also more likely to report that their products have been fully explained to them than the national average. Many individuals with chronic conditions
face challenges related to isolation. This can be due to difficulties associated with leaving their homes. Regular interaction with clinical homecare providers, including phone calls, visits from delivery drivers and clinical support visits, can provide essential social interaction for particularly vulnerable patients.
Benefits to the NHS By reducing burden on traditional services and existing workforce, clinical homecare provides significant operational savings for the NHS and wider health economy. The Best Kept Secret
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I June 2024 Receiving clinical homecare
A positive impact on health A positive impact on recovery A positive impact on relationships A positive impact on ability to work A positive impact on ability to
get on with life Table 1.
report includes detailed economic modelling to quantify the benefits of clinical homecare. This includes the value of direct savings such as lower DNA (Do Not Attend) rates and reduced demand on NHS staff. It also includes the value of up-stream benefits such as lower infection rates and improved medicines adherence. When combined together, the report demonstrates £264 million per year in quantifiable value to the UK’s health economy. At a time when NHS budgets are under pressure, these savings are significant. Evidence in the report also shows that the
clinical services delivered by clinical homecare companies each year provide additional day- case elective capacity equivalent to 15 NHS Trusts. This is based on a comparison of average day-case appointments per NHS Trust (35,571), compared to the number of high tech clinical homecare activities each year (540,479). Previous research has shown that wasted
medicine costs the NHS £375 million a year. Clinical homecare can help overcome this by reducing the number of prescriptions wasted due to events such as damage during patient transit. Clinical homecare companies can also help the NHS cope with disruptions to the pharmaceutical supply chain, which can occur
for a variety of reasons, such as issues in manufacturing, delays in quality control testing or transportation, regulatory barriers or even natural disasters. These issues can be critical as they prevent patients from getting their medication on time and represent an important patient safety issue. When a supply chain disruption occurs,
clinical homecare providers work with the NHS’s National Homecare Medicines Committee to take a national view on providing medication to patients. This can mean efficiently rationing supplies to ensure patients still have access to the medication they need. Clinical homecare companies can also play
a crucial role in the switching of medications when the need arises. This could be when a better or more cost-effective medicine becomes available. As part of this process, clinical homecare companies efficiently ensure patients receive the necessary training to successfully take their new medicine. This support can help minimise the time
taken to switch medications which can reduce the cost to the NHS for generic launches. This has led to significant financial savings for the NHS in the past. If a switch is not urgent, clinical homecare companies can also ensure all old medication is used before new medication is supplied. This helps to reduce wastage even further.
Societal benefits The Best Kept Secret report shows that using clinical homecare can also have wider societal benefits. By consolidating multiple patients’ medications into a single, optimised delivery route, clinical homecare providers significantly reduce the miles travelled per patient delivery. As a result, carbon emissions are reduced by 22,000 metric tonnes a year. This approach aligns with the NHS Carbon Footprint Plus target, striving to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2045. With fewer cars on the road due to consolidated delivery methods, clinical homecare also reduces traffic congestion. This not only contributes to a more efficient use of
79% 72% 64% 58% 75%
Receiving the same care in a hospital, GP or pharmacy
36% 41% 27% 26% 39%
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