Letter: We need a proper health policy conversation Increasing demands on the NHS mean that we have to have a proper national debate. Sir, We can all celebrate the success of rising life expectation. Yet because most of us are living longer, the next 50 years will see a growth of at least two and a half times as many people suffering from multiple problems. Unless action is taken, by 2020 maintaining the current level of service provision will require an additional £30 billion for just the NHS — which is as much as we spend each year on defence. There is an equivalent budget crisis in social care and housing. The status quo is not an option. We are already seeing the signs of the system creaking at the seams. More must be done by us all to eliminate inefficiencies, wasteful variation in care and apply technology to transform care delivery. Resources and vigorous service reform must go hand-in-hand. Business as usual won’t do. However, the longer-term response to this unprecedented financial challenge needs an honest, open dialogue between politicians and citizens. We need a new settlement; a fundamental, holistic agreement with the country on what health and social care should be, how and where it is delivered to maximise the quality of care, and how it should be paid for. We believe the route is an all-party-mandated, independently conducted “national conversation” on the scope, provision and funding of health and social care. It needs to start now and be completed by the end of next year. We call on political leaders to support and assist this proposal. Sir John Oldham, Independent Commission on Whole Person Care Jeremy Hughes, Alzheimer’s Society Dr Peter Carter, Royal College of Nursing Dr Maureen Baker, Royal College of General Practitioners Sir Richard Thompson, Royal College of Physicians Dr Jean-Pierre van Besouw, Royal College of Anaesthetists Ciarán Devane, Macmillan Cancer Support Lord Adebowale, Turning Point Chris Hopson, Foundation Trust Network thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/letters/article4140238.ece
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 08:18:38 +0000