The RCP's five-point plan for the next UK Government

Abstract

In September, 2014, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) launched its five-point plan for the next UK Government (panel). 1 Royal College of PhysiciansFuture hospital: more than a building. The Royal College of Physicians' five-point plan for the next government. Royal College of Physicians, London2014 Google Scholar With the 2015 UK general election approaching, the RCP's plan calls on government and politicians to stop reorganising the National Health Service (NHS) from the top down, to increase NHS funding to avoid a crisis in care, and to commit to an NHS free at the point of delivery. PanelRCP's five-point action plan 1Remove the financial and structural barriers to joined-up care for patients 2Invest now to deliver good care in the future 3Prioritise what works in the NHS and improve what doesn't 4Promote public health through evidence-based legislation 5Adopt the Future Hospital model as a template for service redesign 1Remove the financial and structural barriers to joined-up care for patients 2Invest now to deliver good care in the future 3Prioritise what works in the NHS and improve what doesn't 4Promote public health through evidence-based legislation 5Adopt the Future Hospital model as a template for service redesign Future plans for the NHSThe principal challenge for high-income countries that have achieved universal health coverage is sustainability. To address the health needs of growing and ageing populations with multiple comorbidities is increasingly expensive. For instance, if funding for the UK's National Health Service (NHS), the world's largest single provider of health care, remains tied to economic growth over the next 5 years, there will likely be a £30 billion deficit by 2020. Given this stark reality, NHS England published its Five Year Forward View on Oct 23. Full-Text PDF