Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, MSK Directorate, Newcastle Bridges Clinical Commissioning Group and GlaxoSmithKline Joint Working Agreement

NUTH MSK Directorate, Newcastle Bridges Clinical Commissioning Group and GlaxoSmithKline working together to improve the effectiveness of the osteoporosis pathway.

The purpose of this Joint Working project is to improve identification and treatment of patients with osteoporosis and enhance the management of osteoporosis in line with National Guidance (NOGG 2008 and NICE TA 160,161 & 204) This will be piloted within three practices within the Newcastle Bridges Clinical Consortia in order to understand the effectiveness of the osteoporosis pathway.

Within the project the key ojectives are:

  • To identify the patients who are at risk of or who have experienced a fracture.
  • To identify those pts whose Osteoporosis is sub optimally managed.
  • To develop a care pathway for the groups of patients identified.
  • To improve the level of treatment/management provided to these patients, in line with National Guidance and the new pathway.
  • Improved Patient Experience and understanding of their condition.
  • Up skill relevant Health Care Professionals within in the management and treatment of osteoporosis patients in line with the agreed patient pathway.

The benefits of this project are:

  • Patients identified as at risk of fracture are reviewed and those diagnosed with osteoporosis are managed appropriately in line with national guidance.
  • All patients in the 3 practices with Osteoporosis will have a medicine review.
  • Patients who have discontinued medication with or without consultation will have the opportunity for a review and where appropriate identified for further treatment.
  • Improved quality of life, through fewer fractures.
  • Improved patient experience.
  • Potential for patients to access appropriate care closer to home

NHS

  • Improved understanding of the numbers of patients at risk of fracture in their practices.
  • Increased levels of fracture prevention in their at risk population, in line with national guidance.
  • Patients who have a better understanding of their condition.
  • Reduced admissions to hospital for fracture.
  • A structured patient pathway which makes better use of current resources.

GSK

  • This joint working project will create more opportunities for the appropriate use of medicines, including GSK medicines in suitable patients in line with national guidance. If this improvement occurs we may see an increase in prescriptions for Prolia.
  • Opportunity to work and learn from a genuine partnership with local NHS, in both a primary care and the acute sector on an osteoporosis Joint Working project.
  • An in depth understanding of how osteoporosis management can be improved via this pilot and an opportunity to share this learning via a case study to the wider NHS.

For further information please contact:
Eveline Marshal – Project Manager on behalf of NUTH
Email: eveline.marshall@nuth.nhs.uk
Dr Mike Scott – Project Manager on behalf of Bridges Consortia
Email: Mike.Scott2@nhs.net
Samantha Russell – Project Manager on behalf of GlaxoSmithKline
Email: samantha.j.russell@gsk.com

UK/MA/0045a/11 - October 2011