NHS Digital has published the revalidated ERIC data for 2016/17 following the review and re-submission of estates costs data and associated units demanded in January. The national picture shows a healthy reduction in energy usage, but increasing costs elsewhere.
* The total costs of running the NHS estate were £8.6 billion, an increase of 3.6% on that reported in 2015/16
* The total energy usage from all energy sources across the NHS estate amounted to 11.2 billion kWh, a decrease of 6.3% on that reported in 2015/16
* The total cost to eradicate backlog maintenance was £5.5 billion, an increase of 11.5% on that reported in 2015/16
* The total cost for cleaning services was £1 billion, an increase of 0.8% on that reported in 2015/16
* The total cost of providing inpatient food was £0.6 billion, an increase of 2.1% on that reported in 2015/16.
NHS Digital is working alongside stakeholders and data providers to improve data quality, particularly in the area of data definition refinement. The Carter Efficiency programme uses ERIC data as the basis for highlighting unwarranted variation in costs. It is therefore vital that the data is robust. It has become increasingly clear since the Carter report was published that there is a lack of consistency between Trusts over what is included in the data return.
Further analysis of these results will reveal whether this latest batch of ERIC figures shows that true costs are rising in spite of efforts to make savings or that the recording of data has simply become more accurate.
HEFMA would love to hear your thoughts? Is your Trust involved in any initiatives to improve data? Email [email protected]
