169 Cost-effectiveness analysis of geriatrician-led perioperative services in district general hospitals

Abstract

Background

Perioperative care for Older People undergoing Surgery (POPS) services using Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) and optimisation methodology in the perioperative setting are clinically and cost effective. Originally described within a tertiary centre, the POPS model has been successfully translated to district general hospital (DGH) settings. The aim of this project was to deliver a cost-effective, CGA-based perioperative service for older people at an NHS trust operating across two geographically separate district general hospitals, with support from the newly established POPS Network, an initiative designed to scale up POPS services across the NHS.

Methods

A POPS service had been informally provided by two consultant physicians since 2017, but the service was formalised through the NHS Elect POPS network in 2021. Data were collected from 50 consecutive patients reviewed in POPS outpatient clinic, over a six-week period. Patients with polypharmacy (defined as prescription of five or more drugs) were identified and the number of medications deprescribed was catalogued. The number of specialty referrals or additional outpatient appointments avoided by early CGA was also recorded. Additionally, prospective data on drugs deprescribed on 90 consecutive surgical inpatients were analysed. Economic evaluation was conducted by the trust’s financial and pharmacy departments.

Results

For POPS outpatients, through prevention of onward specialty referral or other outpatient appointments (mean 2.54 per patient), cost saving was calculated at £803 per patient. This generated an extrapolated annual saving of £385,440 at each site. For inpatients, pharmacological optimisation led to an estimated annual cost saving of £239,000, with on average two medications deprescribed per patient. Subsequent benefits realisation analysis at 18 months demonstrated that these results remain consistent.

Conclusion

POPS services within DGHs, when delivered by clinicians who practise holistically, have a significant positive financial impact through pharmacovigilance and by preventing unnecessary specialty referrals and outpatient appointments. These cost savings of over £500,000 have easily funded the substantive service.