Good communication and costs savings in the NHS
On this morning’s Today programme Andrew McDonald, author of a Marie Curie report into NHS communication (The Long and Winding Road: Improving Communication with Patients in the NHS) invited NHS England chief Simon Stevens to meet with him and to respond to the challenge of raising standards of communication in the National Health Service.
Andrew McDonald refers to a “spend to save” strategy where an improvement in communications could result in significant cost savings for the NHS. The report specifically refers to potential savings in the cost of litigation, which would be a welcome effect given that the vast majority of individuals who seek advice about bringing a claim have encountered poor communication at some point in their care, or subsequently whilst raising concerns.