In the standard NHS contract for acute services, the Department mandated collection of Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) for four elective procedures from April 2009. These procedures are hip replacement and knee replacement operations, varicose vein surgeries and groin hernia surgeries. For guidance on PROMs, please see Annex E of the Operating Framework 2008/09 available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/[..]DH_081100.
The information provided by PROMs can be used:
- To assess the relative clinical quality of providers of elective procedures, for clinicians, managers and commissioners benchmarking their own performance, for regulators, clinical audit and for patients and GPs exercising choice. Appropriate adjustments are applied to the data to ensure comparability by accounting for differences in risk and case-mix.
- To research what works. Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of different technical approaches to care can be evaluated using PROMs in association with other measures that assess what would have happened to patients in the absence of treatment or with alternative treatment.
- To assess referral thresholds. PROMs data used to establish whether referrals for elective procedures are appropriate by examining variation in baseline PROMs scores across the country and comparing against benchmarks.
The Department would like to identify key NHS staff so that information reaches the relevant audience and to be a potential resource for consultation and discussion. If you would like to be considered for this, please complete the declaration of interest form by following the "register" link.
Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us by email on proms@dh.gsi.gov.uk.