The cost of consumables in intensive care

Abstract

Cost-effective nursing practice is essential today as resources allocated to healthcare are declining. It is imperative that frontline staff and clinicians be permitted to participate in decision-making processes affecting their work. An honest, open exchange of ideas aimed at achieving cost-effective practices should be encouraged. Intensive care unit (ICU) staff should know the price of consumables they are using. It helps them to decide on cost-effective treatment and involves them in decision-making with the physicians, achieving savings at the unit level. While strategic health authorities and the Department of Health are re-structuring the NHS to make it more viable, in any particular unit, staff members can make their input by controlling costs at a micro level and this will contribute to savings in running costs. Staff should be involved in making their unit cost-effective and this will in turn help to make their trust a cost-effective organisation.