Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt called on NHS leaders to kick start
a big programme of public engagement in order to shape the future of
NHS family health services.
Speaking to the National Leadership Network, Patricia Hewitt said:
"I said when I was appointed ten days ago that I wanted to spend the
next few months listening and learning. I want to hear the views of
people working in the NHS and Social Care. And I want to hear from
the patients and users of its services about their experiences.
"My predecessors, Alan Milburn and John Reid, put in place a series
of major structural reforms that were largely focussed on hospital
services. Over the next few years we need to implement these changes,
giving patients far more choice and control over their treatment,
improving quality and safety, and delivering on our promise of a
maximum 18 weeks between GP referral and treatment.
"I have already made clear there will be no back-tracking on the
direction or pace of reform, and that under this government,
healthcare will remain available to all according to clinical need
and free at the point of use.
"However, the point of contact for most people with the NHS and
Social Care system is their GP or other non-hospital services.
"Half-way through our ten-year programme of investment and reform, it
is now time to focus more closely on the family health services
provided by GPs, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics and others
in primary and non-scheduled care. Most people value greatly the
continuity of care provided by their GP service. But we are also
seeing many new ways of getting health care - NHS Direct, walk-in and
minor injuries centres, treatment provided by paramedics from the
ambulance service and so on.
"In the forthcoming White Paper promised by the Prime Minister, we
will set out a vision for family health services fit for the 21st
century. Everyone will have their views to contribute. Because we
want the White Paper to be firmly based on the experience and
expectations of patients as well as practitioners, I will be
initiating a programme of public engagement in which we will invite
people to help design the twenty-first century 'health service
outside hospitals'.
"I want the National Leadership Network to play a central role in
this important task. Over the next few months as I go round visiting
the front-line for myself, listening and learning, I want you -
leaders from all parts of the NHS and Social Care - to consult staff
in your organisations and users in your areas about what sort of
family health services they want to see.
"It is vital that any future changes should come from the bottom up
and not be imposed from the top down. The aspirations and
expectations of patients and the public about their family health
services should be the starting point for the next stage of reform. I
invite you to join me in this exciting challenge."
The National Leadership Network for Health and Social Care replaces
the NHS Modernisation Board which successfully advised and supported
Ministers through the first phase of reform as part of the NHS Plan.
The next phase of reform requires a new leadership model and change
management process. This is described for the NHS in 'Creating a
Patient-Led NHS, for adult social care in the Green Paper,
'Independence, Well-being and Choice'' and in the White Paper -
'Choosing Health' and its associated Delivery Plan. These documents
can be found on the Department of Health website dh.
The National Leadership Network will work together with Ministers
over the next five years to deliver lasting improvements in health
and social care for people in the country. In order to do this the
NLN will identify and remove barriers to progress and ensure rapid
and frank communication to and from patients, users, staff and the
public. It will promote shared values across the whole NHS and social
care system, champion successful national and local improvements and
offer early advice on emerging policy. The NLN consists of Chairs
and Chief Executives of NHS Primary Care Trusts, Strategic Health
Authorities, Presidents of Royal Colleges and leaders from Trades
Unions, charities and a range of NHS bodies.
GNNREF: 115184
Issued by : DOH Press Office