Posted: April 10th, 2015

‘If you were in charge of the NHS what initiatives would you seek to introduce to provide cost effective care to the population’.

‘If you were in charge of the NHS what initiatives would you seek to introduce to provide cost effective care to the population’.

answer the question according to the guidance attached
N.B. Please use maximum of 5 references to answer this question from the following:
Department of Health, NHS England and other commissioners and decision-makers, as well as stakeholders such as the Kings Fund, the BMA, RPS, NMC, etc.
Word limit 1050-1100 words.

‘If you were in charge of the NHS what initiatives would you seek to introduce to provide cost effective care to the population’.
Please use maximum of 5 references to answer this question from the following:
Department of Health, NHS England and other commissioners and decision-makers, as well as stakeholders such as the Kings Fund, the BMA, RPS, NMC, etc.
Word limit 1050-1100 words.
Guidance on preparation for this question
The essay will involve the discussion, and the proposal and refutation of arguments in respect of NHS fiscal policy. In particular you are directed to a number of key concepts that the NHS is currently grappling with, and these start with former NHS Chief Executive Sir David Nicholson’s ‘challenge’. Since his retirement that post has been filled by Simon Stevens who has similarly made announcements about the viability and strategy surrounding the delivery of health-care to our population.
What should a conscientious student do about this activity?
First it is important to obtain an understanding of the costs associated with the NHS in its widest sense. This will involve a search for official statements and policy documents, and the identification of key messages from sources such as the Department of Health, NHS England and other commissioners and decision-makers, as well as stakeholders such as the Kings Fund, the BMA, RPS, NMC, etc.
The next task will be to identify a number of key references from your wider reading and record them on your sheet of notes, since your essay should be fully and accurately referenced.
Having obtained a broad appreciation of this issue it will be necessary to make brief notes on the areas that you believe will be relevant to a discussion of costs and cost saving within the organisation.
This is not expected to be massively onerous in terms of time commitment, but should be derived from a student’s general awareness of the healthcare environment in the UK and the various leader articles in the national quality newspapers and professional journals (however accessed).

You are directed to the learning outcomes of this activity
1    Critically reflect on the context in which prescribing takes place
2    Critically compare and contrast the concepts of supplementary, independent and extended prescribing as well as the role of patient group directions.
3    Demonstrate an understanding of and evaluate the influences on prescribing practice.
4    Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of a physical examination and the clinical skills necessary to undertake such an examination.
5    Critically analyse, use and evaluate sources of information, advice and decision support available to facilitate effective prescribing practice.
Undergraduate reading
Often students consider pre-reading as ‘optional’ and ‘enhancing’ rather than essential to a subsequent activity. In the case of this assessment, the breadth of reading will clearly underpin the range of opinions that have been gathered. The reading and critical challenge that a student gives to a particular statement, data series, or ‘fact’ will lead them to consider the National Health Service in its widest sense, and take them to supplementary and additional (potentially peripheral) articles; all of this will develop their thinking and perspective on the subject.
Essay Construction
Students should NOT attempt to write the detailed essay. They should seek to develop the strands of the argument in a manner that will produce a cogent and coherent thesis that reflects fully their appreciation and understanding of the concepts and issues. A well planned essay, written in this environment will combine all the elements of spontaneity and reflection which are important in the daily routine of a healthcare professional.