Read Jack Serle's latest HSJi Review, which says how the dual challenge of the highly restricted state of NHS finances and the inexorable growth in spending on medicines has put renewed focus on controlling NHS drug budgets.

As far as the NHS is concerned, efficiencies are needed now and the drug budget, after spending on pay, is the biggest target to aim for. Read the full article here.

Latest investigations

Medicines optimisation priorities: spring 2025

The NHS medicines spend grew to £20.6bn in 2023-24, up 7 per cent on the year before.

This growth appears to be inexorable; the population is growing and ageing, with individual patients accumulating multiple health issues. The cost of new drugs coming onto the market also contributes to this growth, as does global supply chain disruption.

This growth is happening in the context of tightening NHS finances, and medicines optimisation has therefore become vital to both providers and commissioners looking to keep costs under control.

Portsmouth Hospitals University Trust and Isle Of Wight Trust

The trusts now share a chair and chief executive, and clinical support services are being integrated. A shared electronic patient record is being procured for all four system providers. The trusts have committed to hugely ambitious cost improvement programmes, with large workforce cuts expected. Efforts are underway to reduce emergency department admissions by improving alternative pathways. There has been a highly successful merger of corporate services, alongside cutting back in-house activities and outsourcing certain functions. The trusts are also seeking to improve theatre productivity while expanding diagnostic and emergency care capacity.

Data

Last week the following data points were updated:

• Website Address of Acute,Sp,Com,MH,Amb in Q4 2024-25
• Name of Wales, Scotland in April
• Strategic Plan (Link) of ICS for Latest plan (2024-2029)