The NHS has been too slow to develop into a “truly modern and efficient service”, the NHS Confederation has warned.

The confederation said public confidence in the NHS needed to be rebuilt before health leaders can make the major changes which will be required because of the financial climate.

It said more must be done to involve patients and carers in the choices it faces.

A confederation report highlights the “unprecedented financial predicament” that the NHS faces and says that demand for healthcare continues to grow at a rate that current funding cannot match.

The report, called Tough Times, Tough Choices, has also, controversially, moots the ideas of charging some patients for GP appointments, or for hospital meals.

Mike Farrar, the organisation’s chief executive, said: “The NHS has come under fire in recent weeks and has been accused of not being open and honest with patients and the public.

“We need to address this head-on and make sure that our public services are fully accountable to the people who pay for them.

“The NHS is facing severe pressure on its finances. We are coming to a critical juncture and need to have a frank discussion about the road ahead. This is a crucial time to show our commitment to improving the way we work and how we involve the public in decisions about their care.

“The simple truth is that we have been slow to change the NHS into a truly modern and efficient service. In the past the easier options have been to spend more money on health or to focus on doing more for less.

“We know we can do much more to create an affordable system that works in the best interests of patients. Getting real bang for our buck will require some tough choices and will require strong political will and public support.

“We need to talk openly and honestly with the public about why our health services need to change, presenting all the facts. We need to talk about what needs to happen, where it needs to happen and why.

“If we fail to discuss these issues now, we will have no mandate for change in the future. We will feel the full force of public wrath for failing to consult on the choices we have. We cannot risk the wheels coming off and patient care suffering. That is something that no-one wants to see happen.”

Health minister Lord Howe said: “We have been clear that the NHS needs to look closely at how it can improve the way it treats patients.

“If we are to meet the needs of an ageing population, the NHS and its partners in social care need to look seriously at how care is being provided, particularly to older patients and those with long term conditions who are the main users of our health and care services.

“Our healthcare services need to be more efficient. This doesn’t mean cutting services - it means getting better services to people in a timely way.

“The number of people over 85 is set to double in coming decades. Doing things differently is the only way we will meet people’s expectations within a constrained budget.”

Lord Howe added that from April, GPs, local authorities and hospitals would have to work together to ensure services are integrated and that more is provided in the community.

 

Topics