Next UK Government must trust in NHS staff and local solutions

Abstract

Election campaigns usually feature competing visions of how the health-care system should be reformed. The current UK election, at least as regards the National Health Service (NHS) in England, is unusual in that none of the political parties are advocating major structural change. This reflects the astute steps taken over the past few months by those responsible for overseeing the NHS in England. The Five Year Forward View1 NHS EnglandCare Quality CommissionHealth Education EnglandMonitor Public Health EnglandTrust Development AuthorityNHS five year forward view. NHS England, London2014 Google Scholar has not only wrested control of strategic thinking from the politicians but also gained their support. Any incoming UK Government will have difficulty in not supporting implementation of this plan for the future of the NHS. What is also remarkable is the nature of the strategy set out in the Five Year Forward View: NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens has called it “a compass not a map”, 2 Stevens S HSJ annual lecture transcript: Simon Stevens on forward view for the NHS. Heath Serv J. Dec 22, 2014; (accessed Feb 26, 2015).http://www.hsj.co.uk/news/hsj-annual-lecture-transcript-simon-stevens-on-forward-view-for-the-nhs/5077747.article#.VO9VC_msU1I Google Scholar while The King's Fund describe it as “a process of discovery rather than design”. 3 Ham C Murray R Implementing the NHS five year forward view: aligning policies with the plan. The King's Fund, London2015 Google Scholar It seeks to avoid structural changes and instead addresses the key objectives for any health system of improving population health, quality of care, and productivity of staff. 4 Berwick DM Nolan TW Whittington J The triple aim: care, health and cost. Health Aff (Millwood). 2008; 27: 759-769 Crossref PubMed Scopus (3267) Google Scholar The UK general election: a manifesto for healthDebates about the core issues for the UK general election on May 7 are now in full swing. Health is one important flashpoint, and the National Health Service (NHS)—its productivity, affordability, and organisation—is already being discussed widely. However, the election should be about more than saving the NHS. The anger about the Coalition's “reforms” is still deep and honestly felt, with good reason. But if the political debate about health in the UK is reduced only to a binary—save or sacrifice the NHS as we know it—we will be doing a great disservice to a public that faces serious health threats throughout the life-course. Full-Text PDF