Press Area

Pressure Care call to save millions

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

MILLIONS COULD BE SAVED BY TACKLING PRESSURE ULCERS

The Government are missing an opportunity to save millions by failing to target prevention of pressure ulcers in NHS provided care. Although the recent NHS White Paper highlights the need to tackle venous thromboembolism (VTE) on wards, it makes no mention of ulcers which cost the NHS over £3 billion a year and create longer than necessary hospital stays.

Now the British Healthcare Trades Association is calling on the government to make pressure ulcer prevention a priority alongside VTE. Tackling the issue could save up to £600 million a year - which in turn would help the government to make £3 billion of savings towards their budget cuts by 2015.

The Association has shown that pressure ulcers are a huge problem not only to individuals who develop them but also to clinicians who work with them. Research shows that between 4% and 10% of all patients admitted to hospital will develop at least one pressure ulcer. In extreme cases this can lead to unnecessary death and in as many as 95% of cases the ulcers could be avoided by the assessment of patients and the provision of appropriate pressure relieving surfaces or regular turning where there is a risk of ulceration.

Now the Association are calling on the government to make it a requirement that incidents of pressure ulcers are reported in line with NICE guidance of 2005 and that additional funds are made available in the short term for education and additional pressure relieving surfaces.

Director General of the BHTA, Ray Hodgkinson MBE, said

“Pressure sores are costing the NHS billions so we are disappointed the government have not made their reduction a priority. Targeting this area will help save money, free up beds, prevent deaths and reduce unnecessary misery for thousands of people each year “

For more information please call Ray Hodgkinson MBE on 0207 702 2141 or Mark Oaten on 07767 307495

Notes to Editors

The BHTA represents over 400 companies in the medical healthcare sector - including wheelchairs, scooters, prosthetics, simple aids, orthotics, stoma care, beds, pressure care and electronic communications. It also has responsibility for overseeing the industry's Consumer Code of Practice, which is approved by the Office of Fair Trading.

Government Plans for Elderly to Live at Home Longer Welcomed

Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Government has said in an announcement today that they plan for greater use of home adaptations as a way of allowing people to stay in their homes for much longer. The British Healthcare Trades Association, whose members provide equipment which helps people stay at home, believe this could be a way of saving the Government millions of pounds on elderly care costs, and more importantly, improve quality of life for a generation who are living longer and want to stay at home.

The new Government’s pledge could dramatically change the way we think about long term care for the elderly. Industry believes better use of assisitive technology and equipment could transform people’s homes. Stairlifts, bathing aids, beds, pressure area care products and hoists, along with wheel chairs, hand rails and many simple aids to daily living can make a real difference and can give independence to individuals.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Ray Hodgkinson MBE, Director General of the BHTA said:

‘I’m delighted that the Government have made this important announcement. It could make a real difference to people’s lives and with an aging population it makes economic sense for people to stay at home longer.

We will now urgently put forward ideas to Government on how industry can help make this pledge a reality.’

Mobility Industry Supports Call for Better Assessment

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Buying a mobility scooter can be a positive and life enriching decision, offering freedom and independence to people unable to get out easily. Selling a mobility scooter demands personal care and professional consideration.

The BHTA – Britain's longest established trade association – represents retailers, both large and small, who abide by the terms of the BHTA Code of Practice - the only Code in this industry to have achieved full Office of Fair Trading approval.

The Code stipulates that before any vehicle is bought, the user must be properly assessed and instructed in its use. BHTA members take their responsibility to ensure this happens extremely seriously.

The Association believes the majority of mobility scooter users are responsible and courteous in the way they drive their vehicles. Scooters can travel at 8mph in the road, but the user must switch to a speed limit of 4mph maximum whilst on pavements and in pedestrian areas. Users who do not do this are far more likely to cause an accident.

We would recommend that potential buyers seek out a BHTA member company for peace of mind and professional assessment and training. These can be found on the OFT and BHTA websites.

We also provide a suite of Get Wise leaflets covering the main aspects of buying and using a mobility vehicle. These are available upon request from the BHTA by email: bhta@bhta.com or by phoning: 020 7702 2141

Cost Fear Under New Community Equipment Changes

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Efficiency savings will not be realised without an integrated approach. An independent report produced for industry and conducted by the centre for economics and business research ltd, has found the new model of delivery could trigger economic cost of up to £13.4 million per annum nationally.

The report, commissioned by the British Healthcare Trades Association from the centre for economics and business research ltd, is in response to the Department of Health initiative to transform the way community equipment is provided.

Circa 3.8 million pieces of community equipment such as walking sticks, hand rails, beds and lifts are issued each year, making community equipment services a vital part of the health care and social services system.

A well functioning community equipment service can take pressure off primary care providers such as hospitals by allowing patients to return quicker to their homes, preventing injuries as well as allowing older people to live independently for longer.

While the BHTA supports the intended objectives, the cebr report finds that in its current form the TCES policy proposal is likely to miss its objectives. Although the changes are aimed at increasing access to equipment for patients, the BHTA is worried it could backfire and has highlighted the following main concerns:

1. The retail model to date only considers simple, low value community equipment (simple aids for daily living). It therefore neglects the other three quarters of the community equipment spending which go towards complex community equipment. By not recognising the relationship between complex and simple equipment, which are often prescribed in tandem, the government is likely to miss efficiency savings. An integrated approach is needed.

2. The economic impact assessment shows that the proposed retail model is a less efficient way to provide community equipment. A nationwide adoption could trigger additional cost of up to £13.4 million for private households and public services providers.

3. The many different ways in which community equipment services are provided – ranging from pure private sector to full public service approaches – means there is no common base case for a national impact assessment. This casts doubt on the cost savings claims made by the Department of Health.

4. Additionally, the incentives of the new retail scheme are likely to lead to a sluggish take up among retailers with predominantly those with large outlets stocking the equipment. This may lead to an under-provision in less densely populated areas.

Phil Isherwood, Chairman of the BHTA commented:

“This report throws up real concerns about the Government's figures but provides an opportunity for the policy to be revised before it is too late. We are concerned that the new model, as it stands, could exacerbate the post code lottery, as a multitude of different approaches are being considered.

- ENDS -

Notes for Editors:

The report “Transforming Community Equipment Services: A review of the financial and economic impact of the proposed community equipment services retail model” can be found here

The centre for economics and business research ltd is an independent economics consultancy with a reputation for sound business advice based on thorough and insightful research. Since 1992, cebr has been at the forefront of business and public interest research. They provide analysis, forecasts and strategic advice to major UK and multinational companies, financial institutions, government departments and agencies and trade bodies.

cebr ltd

Unit 1
4 Bath Street
London EC1V 9DX

Tel: 020 7324 2850

Fax: 020 7324 2855

Email: enquiries@cebr.com

Website: www.cebr.com

The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) is the UK's oldest and largest trade association in the assistive technologies and healthcare market (founded in 1917). It has more than 380 member companies - both large and small businesses - across the many and varied non-pharmaceutical sectors of the healthcare industry. They provide products and services to those with special physical and healthcare needs via the NHS and Social services and directly to members of the public via BHTA retailers. Sections include mobility, rehabilitation, prosthetics and orthotics, stairlifts, stoma care, emergency care, health and safety training, seating and visual impairment. Key to membership is the BHTA Code of Practice which all members must abide by and which has attained stage one approval of the Office of Fair Trading's Consumer Codes Approval Scheme.

BHTA published a position paper about the TCES programme in October 2008 which can be found here.

BHTA

New Loom house, Suite 4.06

101 Back Church Lane

London E1 1LU

Tel: 020 7702 2141

Fax: 020 7680 4048

Email: bhta@bhta.com

Details regarding the programme to Transform Community Equipment Services, launched in 2006 can be found at: http://www.dhcarenetworks.org.uk/csed/TransformingCommunityEquipmentService/