25.02.14
Big jump in Scotland hip replacement operation access
Researchers have praised NHS Scotland for increasing access to hip replacements over the past decade without relying on “poor value” private sector contracts.
The research, published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, was conducted by the Centre for Primary Care and Public Health at Queen Mary University of London with the University of Edinburgh and Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Access to hip replacement has increased and geographical inequalities have improved across all geographical health boards since 2003, when waiting time initiatives in Scotland were introduced.
The researchers say that a key factor was the Scottish government’s decision to buy the privately owned Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank and run it as a major NHS centre for orthopaedics and a national resource dedicated to reducing waiting times in key elective specialties.
Researcher Professor Allyson Pollock said: “Scotland has managed to improve and increase access to treatment for all patients by expanding capacity within the NHS, unlike England which has placed increasing reliance on poor value contracts with the private sector to deliver elective treatments.
“While England has decided to go down the private route there is growing concern south of the border about rationing and denial of surgery.”
The study was funded by the Chief Scientist Office in Scotland.
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