Determining local service levels for an upper GI endoscopy service
Benchmarks for a standard population
Available data suggest that the benchmark endoscopy rate should be 0.75%, or 750 endoscopies per 100,000 population, per year. This includes all diagnostic endoscopies and follow-up endoscopies. Areas with a relatively elderly population, or a population with other risk factors, might be expected to have a slightly higher rate.
For a standard primary care trust population of 250,000, the annual number of endoscopies required would be expected to be 1875.
For an average practice with a list size of 10,000, the annual number of endoscopies required would be 75.
This service is likely to fall under the programme budgeting category 213A (problems of the gastro intestinal system - upper GI). It may also fall under category 202B (cancer and tumours - cancer, upper GI).
Examine the assumptions used in estimating these figures.
Use the upper GI endoscopy 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:
- Department of Health Delivering quality and value - focus on benchmarking.
- NICE Health equity audit - learning from practice briefing.
- Delivering the 18 week patient pathway: 18 week commissioning pathways.
- The 'No delays achiever' provides access to service improvement tools aimed at reducing time between referral and treatment.
This page was last updated: 31 March 2010
- Upper GI endoscopy services
- Commissioning an upper GI endoscopy service
- Specifying an upper GI endoscopy service
- Determining local service levels for an upper GI endoscopy service
- Assumptions used in estimating a population benchmark
- The commissioning and benchmarking tool
- Ensuring corporate and quality assurance
