ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the mechanism of more appropriate hospital prescribing as a method of releasing resources in secondary care. In devising a strategy to release resources the incentives to do so, where to target activity and the resources available to be released, should be considered. Devolution of up to 70" of their overall budget to Clinical Directorates provides an incentive for savings in one area to be used in another. Most resources can be released by targeting specific areas of medicine use. Drug use evaluation may also provide cost justification if a new agent introduction adds significantly to drug expenditure, but releases resources in other areas, staff time and shorter length of stay. If a cheaper medicine can be used with a similar outcome to a more expensive one, then cash will be released. The price per case various significantly. Change from one agent to another can release cash.
