10.03.16
NHS offers £150m funding to help trusts reduce inappropriate prescribing
An extra £150m is on offer to help NHS trusts fight antibiotic resistance as part of a programme unveiled today.
The funding will help pharmacists, clinicians and GPs review and reduce inappropriate prescribing, with a target of a 4% prescription reduction, to 2013-14 levels. However, NICE has introduced guidance that they say would, if implemented, lead to 25% reduction.
Antimicrobial resistance, caused by prescribing antibiotics too frequently and for too long, is estimated to contribute to at least 50,000 deaths from antimicrobial infections each year in the USA and Europe. The Antimicrobial Resistance Review estimate that this could rise to 10 million deaths globally by 2050 unless action is taken.
Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, said: “Antimicrobial resistance is a major threat to patient safety and the quality of care.
“These measures will build on the vital work the NHS is already doing to tackle the overuse and inappropriate prescription of antibiotics, so that in years to come patients can continue to be protected from otherwise lethal infections.”
Further payments will also be made for reducing the use of ‘broad spectrum’ antibiotics. Hospital trusts will also receive payments for gathering and sharing evidence of antibiotic consumption and review within 72 hours of the beginning of treatment.
Information will be available for commissioners to review on a dedicated website and will allow them to directly monitor progress.
The new programme was announced to coincide with the Global Patient Safety Summit, where yesterday health secretary Jeremy Hunt promised new NHS safety and transparency measures, including independent reviews of all deaths by 2018.