Is it time to reset the contract between patients and the NHS?
Lord Ara Darzi, Member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom, has conducted a review of the NHS across England. He has concluded the service is in a ‘critical condition’ with long waiting lists, a deterioration in the nation’s underlying health and problems for people accessing services.
The review will inform the Government’s 10-year plan to reform the NHS, consultation on which is expected to start later this year.
Responding to the publication of Professor Lord Darzi’s Independent Investigation of the National Health Service in England, Ashley Green, our Chief Executive Officer, said:
"People will welcome Lord Darzi's prognosis on the NHS. Although the NHS does much good, patients repeatedly share their frustrations and confusion about accessing care in North Yorkshire.
"GP access is difficult, NHS dentistry is in disarray, and people face excessive waiting times for hospital treatment. These challenges are not experienced equally, with poorer communities hit hardest.
"Restoring public confidence in the NHS and delivering timely, safe and quality care must focus on the issues that matter most to people now and in the future."We’re calling for improvements to patient communications and administration, giving people a choice of how to access care, a better listening culture within the NHS, and for services to be measured against the quality of patient experiences, not just the length of time they wait for care.
"The public will welcome the chance to help shape the future of healthcare and reset the contract between them and the NHS. Especially if it results in clearer rights, more responsive services and an equal say in their care."
