Darzi review: NHS North West to focus on patient engagement

Patient engagement, health promotion and illness prevention are at the core of NHS North West's 10-year Darzi vision.

The strategic health authority has outlined plans to increase life expectancy by 11 per cent for men and 16 per cent for women by 2011.

In its report, Healthier Horizons for the North West, it pledges to put in place personalised budgets for patients with long-term conditions and to increase choice and support for those at advanced stages of illness to die at home.

In addition, children's trusts will plan services for children and young people, linking health, social care and the voluntary sector.

The SHA has set out 10 "touchstone tests" with measurable outcomes, devised as indicators to show whether report goals are being achieved.

NHS North West chief executive Mike Farrar said: "We are proud of the considerable progress that has been made in the North West towards a healthier future for our citizens and share Lord Darzi's vision of a fairer, more personalised, safe and accountable health service.

"But to achieve that vision, the NHS must raise its game. We must deliver world class quality services time after time and engage the public and patients more effectively so that decisions are made with and not for them."

More HSJ coverage of the Darzi review


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Reader Response

At last, a long term strategy that will yield significant benefits for patients over the longer term. Perhaps employee engagement, contribution and performance should be included as a strategy for managers and employee in the North West and everywhere as a strategy for preventing harmful events at work that leads to the massive haemorrhaging of money through sickness absence and staff turnover. Then there will be more resources to achieve the patient focus strategy.