NHS Could Save Millions Through Smarter Prescribing Of Cholesterol-busting Drugs, UK

Main Category: Statins
Also Included In: Cholesterol;  Public Health
Article Date: 02 Jan 2007 - 2:00 PDT

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New figures published today show that the NHS could save at least £85m a year through more efficient prescribing of statins, the drugs that lower cholesterol.

The figures also show the productivity gains the NHS has delivered during the second quarter of the year, including reducing the length of time patients stay in hospital and reducing the number of days patients have to wait in hospital before their operation.

The findings come from the second set of quarterly 'Better Care, better value' indicators, developed by the Department of Health to help the local NHS identify productivity gains and improve patient care.

The volume of statin prescribing has increased by over 150 per cent in the last five years and cost the NHS around £600m in 2005.

Costs of statins vary markedly depending on whether they are 'branded' drugs or cheaper - but equally effective - generic versions. The figures published today show the levels of prescribing by PCT of generic versions of pravastatin and simvastatin, two of the five statins that are currently approved for use within the UK.

They show that if every PCT prescribed pravastatin and simvastatin in 69 per cent of cases - the level achieved by the top quarter of trusts - then over £84.7m could be saved in a year.

For example, Tameside and Glossop PCT prescribed them in 31.9 per cent of cases - however if they increased this to the performance of the top quarter of trusts then they could save £435,846 every year.

The 'Better Care, better value' indicators for the second quarter of this year highlight that the NHS has already started to make savings from more efficient prescribing of statins. The figures show that over £3m has been saved in the quarter to date across the NHS.

Health Minister Andy Burnham said:

"As new drugs become available, the local NHS will increasingly have to look closely at the resources it spends on common treatments to ensure it is getting value for money.

"Statin prescription is one of the areas that can release the most savings which can be ploughed back into patient care.

"The figures I'm publishing today show that productivity gains are already being delivered by many PCTs and demonstrate to other parts of the NHS the savings they could make.

"Clinicians can help to treat more patients by prescribing one of the lower cost drugs where it is clinically appropriate. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has confirmed that generic versions of statins are as effective for most patients as their more expensive, branded counterparts.

"Improved efficiency will deliver both better patient care and better value to the taxpayer."

Other findings from the second quarter's data include:

over 60 per cent of NHS trusts reduced the number of days that patients had to wait in hospital in advance of their operations - this released an estimated annual saving of £6m for the NHS; and, nearly three quarters of hospitals reduced the length of time patients needed to stay unnecessarily in hospital thus saving the NHS an estimated annual sum of £28m.

The second set of 'Better Care, better value' indicators will be received by the NHS this week.

1. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend statin therapy for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults who have a 20 per cent or greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease over 10 years. In addition, the guidance recommends that when therapy is initiated, the statin chosen should usually be of low acquisition cost. Click here for more information.

2. The 'Better care, better value' indicators are published quarterly. They inform NHS trusts how they compare to similar organisations and help them identify to best practice and identify areas of underperformance so they can put plans in place to tackle it. They can be viewed here.

Department of Health, UK

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