Does price labelling result in sustained cost awareness?

Abstract

IntroductionPressures on the National Health Service require improvement in quality of care on a reducing budget. Acute trusts spend £6 billion on procurement, an area highlighted in the Carter Report with the potential for up to £2 billion in efficiency savings. Meanwhile, cost awareness of products among clinicians is poor.Case studyA survey of 20 ENT (ear, nose and throat) theatre doctors and nurses was carried out in a North West district general hospital to gauge the level of cost awareness in 2011. This was followed by a 2-month period of price labelling of selected products. A follow-up survey in 2017 looked at any sustained effect of awareness.ResultsWhile individual product prices were not recalled, awareness of price differences and specific expensive items was sustained in 75% of respondents, with influence on product choice also dependent on evidence base and clinical outcome. The remaining 25% included new staff employed post initial survey in 2011.ConclusionA combination of price labelling with education and a clinical evidence base has potential for efficiency savings. Clinicians willingly participate in product selection when shown that change will lower cost and leave patient outcome unaffected or improved.