Reconciling competing priorities in commissioning: the future of bone densitometry service for North Wales.
BACKGROUND
Osteoporosis creates brittle bones susceptible to fracture, with resulting high levels of morbidity and mortality. Poor access to bone densitometry services for the residents of North Wales led to the Welsh Assembly Government offering capital to purchase a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner, used to diagnose osteoporosis, for the region. The commissioning question for the six Local Health Boards across North Wales was where to site the new scanner. This decision needed to reflect current inequalities in access to services and concerns over inappropriate prescribing relative to Welsh norms.


METHODS
Epidemiological, corporate and comparative healthcare needs assessments were performed. In addition, two cross-sectional surveys were conducted to determine the views of general practices and users of bone densitometry services resident in North Wales. An option appraisal and sensitivity analysis of 13 costed options for DXA scanning was conducted.


RESULTS
We estimated that only 31% of the people in North Wales who met national guidelines were receiving DXA scans. There was definite inequity of access to the current service provided by area of residence. There was also evidence of inequity of access by age and sex. The most suitable option identified in the option appraisal was a bone densitometry service based in the central location of Llandudno.


CONCLUSIONS
The assessment identified significant unmet need for DXA scanning. A recommendation was made to improve access through the introduction of a new bone densitometry service based at Llandudno. This would double scanning provision provided and reduce travel costs and time for many North Wales residents. This recommendation was adopted by a joint commissioning group established by the six Local Health Boards in North Wales at the end of 2004 - evidence based commissioning in practice.
Atenstaedt
Robert L
RL
National Public Health Service for Wales (North Wales Region), Mold CH7 1PZ, UK.|Institute for Medical & Social Care Research, University of Wales, Bangor LL57 2PX, UK.
Payne
Sandra
S
National Public Health Service for Wales (North Wales Region), Mold CH7 1PZ, UK.
Roberts
Richard
R
National Public Health Service for Wales (North Wales Region), Mold CH7 1PZ, UK.
Russell
Ian
I
National Public Health Service for Wales (North Wales Region), Mold CH7 1PZ, UK.|Institute for Medical & Social Care Research, University of Wales, Bangor LL57 2PX, UK.
Russell
Daphne
D
Institute for Medical & Social Care Research, University of Wales, Bangor LL57 2PX, UK.
Edwards
Rhiannon Tudor
RT
National Public Health Service for Wales (North Wales Region), Mold CH7 1PZ, UK.|Centre for Economics and Policy in Health, University of Wales, Bangor LL57 1UT, UK.