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The NHS Institute’s Delivering Quality and Value team launched a series of documents focusing on high volume care on October 30th. These documents show a detailed range of specific improvements along an entire clinical pathway, from primary care through treatment and discharge and rehabilitation for eight Healthcare Resource Groups (HRG’s).

The four HRG’s of particular interest to geriatricians are fractured neck of femur, acute stroke, frail older people and short stay emergency care. Three geriatricians are clinical leads for three of these pathways – Neil Baldwin for stroke, Jim George for frail older people and Ian Sturgess for short stay emergency care. These documents are being circulated to Chief Executives of hospital Trusts and commissioners and it is hoped the information will be used as a framework to achieve better quality care. Audit measures and standards are suggested for each pathway. Members of the BGS need to be aware of the pathways and become involved at a local and national level.

The intention is to produce further products to support the agreed pathways of care. The lead clinicians involved are very happy to take comments and answer individual queries. The documents can be found on the NHS Institute of Innovation and Improvement website.

Jim George