Determining local service levels for an anticoagulation therapy service
Benchmarks for a standard population
Available data suggest that the benchmark population rate for people requiring anticoagulation therapy at any one time is 1.40% per year, or 1400 per 100,000 population. This rate includes people who require anticoagulation therapy because of atrial fibrillation (AF), and those who have other indications such as recent deep vein thrombosis or other conditions leading to thromboembolism. Areas with a relatively elderly population might be expected to have a higher rate as there is increasing prevalence and incidence of AF with increasing age. Areas with a population with increased risk factors for AF may also be expected to have a higher rate.
For a standard primary care trust population of 250,000, the average number of patients expected to require anticoagulation therapy at any one time is likely to be approximately 3500.
For an average practice with a list size of 10,000, the average number of patients expected to require anticoagulation therapy at any one time is likely to be approximately 140.
This service is likely to fall under the programme budgeting category 210C (problems of circulation - rhythm). It may also fall under category 203X (disorders of blood).
Examine the assumptions used in estimating these figures.
Use the anticoagulation therapy service commissioning and benchmarking tool to determine the level of service that might be needed locally and to calculate the cost of commissioning the service using the indicative benchmark and/or your own local data.
Further information
Sources of further information to help you in assessing local health needs and reducing health inequalities include:
- Annex A of the Commissioning framework for health and well-being outlines the process and data needed to undertake a joint strategic needs assessment.
- Department of Health Delivering quality and value - focus on benchmarking.
- NICE Health equity audit - learning from practice briefing.
- PRIMIS+ provides support to general practices on information management, recording for, and analysis of, data quality, plus a comparative analysis service focused on key clinical topics.
This page was last updated: 18 March 2010
- Anticoagulation therapy service
- Commissioning an anticoagulation therapy service
- Specifying an anticoagulation therapy service
- Determining local service levels for an anticoagulation therapy service
- Assumptions used in estimating a population benchmark
- The commissioning and benchmarking tool
- Ensuring corporate and quality assurance
