Health’s review of elective medical procedures is part of a wider piece of work to create a policy which will determine which healthcare treatments should be funded when resources are limited, it has emerged.
The Health Minister yesterday told that States Assembly the ongoing review forms “an essential part” of work to develop a new treatments and interventions prioritisation policy. These policies are used in the UK and globally to establish criteria and frameworks for deciding which healthcare interventions to fund or implement when resources are limited.
It comes after Deputy Tom Binet last month revealed that numerous routine elective procedures – that “may be of limited clinical value” or “may not represent best use of the funds available” – were being reviewed.
An elective procedure is a non-emergency medical procedure that is scheduled in advance.
At the time, the Minister also said he would be asking the States Assembly to sanction a “major increase” in funding for the health service – citing pressure to deliver an “efficient, value for money health service” at a time of “sharply rising costs in all areas”.
Healthcare becomes more and more complicated every year, and more and more procedures and treatments are introduced – and every now and again you have to have review
health minister tom binet
In the States Assembly yesterday, Deputy Binet revealed further details about his plans.
He said: “At present, we are reliant on a narrow and outdated policy which does little more than set criteria for access to publicly funded surgeries. The new policy will cover access to surgery, wider treatments, and medicines.”
The Minister added that this new blueprint will provide guidance on what treatments should be prioritised in terms of importance.
He explained: “Healthcare becomes more and more complicated every year, and more and more procedures and treatments are introduced – and every now and again you have to have review.
“I think it’s some considerable time since that’s been done, and we’re relying on a lot of information that was put together many years ago, so I think it’s high time that we did this review.
“And I’m sure that when it comes out that everybody in the Assembly will find that it is a considerable improvement on what we’re working with at the moment.”
He added that “if everything goes according to plan” the findings of the elective procedures review will be presented at the next meeting of the Health Advisory Board on Thursday 25 September.
Deputy Binet also agreed to publish the terms of reference for the review of elective procedures. Express has requested a copy of this.