NHS 'must move care into community'

Health secretary Andy Burnham said a “decisive shift” in policy was needed if the health service was to deliver improved patient care and cut costs.

The NHS needs to do more to plan services around patients

Mr Burnham cited home dialysis as one way the NHS could bring care services into people’s homes rather than forcing patients to stay in hospital for long periods of time.

The announcement is the latest step in the government’s plans to personalise NHS care and provide at-home services for vulnerable people.

Mr Burnham said: “The time has come for the NHS to make a decisive shift in providing more care out of hospitals and in the patient’s community and home.

“For too long, services have been organised to fit the convenience of the system. A great NHS will put the convenience of the patient first and move services towards them where it is safe to do so.

“The NHS needs to do more to plan services around patients - even taking services into their home,” he added.

The announcement builds on the government’s plans to introduce a new framework for the treatment of children and young people suffering from long-term health problems, including providing 24-hour access to advice and support from community children’s nursing teams.

The health secretary has also pledged to address the issue of allowing terminal patients the right to die at home.