Cutting waste and costs: how GIRFT can help

The Getting It Right First Time programme led by Prof.Tim Briggs can be used as an enabler to cutting costs by reducing unwarranted variation, but this needs to be done in the right way otherwise you risk creating considerable friction and push back by surgeons. I applied this approach across 39 UK hospitals looking at both NHS and privately-funded episodes and successfully reduced costs - for example to reduce unnecessary use of more expensive uncemented prosthesis in patients who were never likely to require revision and to rationalise the clinical indications for the use of hemi-arthroplasty - with support and engagement of consultant surgeons. It done correctly, this drives up quality and enhances operating margins.

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