Audit--a cause for TMJ dysfunction

The last few years have seen those of us in hospital practice confronted by clinical audit and unit budgeting. We have recently been advised, by our unit general manager, that in the next financial year we must make a 1% saving, followed by 2% the subsequent year. Of course, clinical budgeting is nothing new for our colleagues in general practice. They have been working within its confines almost since the inception of the Health Service, in the guise of item of service payment. However, for those of us in hospital practice who have hitherto been relatively cushioned from economic realities, this can come as quite a shock.