NHS is in a ‘critical condition’, says independent investigation
The report is the result of a nine-week review by the independent peer and NHS surgeon Lord Darzi.
He was asked by the current Labour Government to identify problem areas in the NHS, but his remit did not stretch to coming up with solutions.
The report says the NHS is in a "critical condition" and "serious trouble".
The report's findings will inform the Government’s 10-year plan to reform the NHS.
Key findings from the report
- A&E is in an "awful state" - with long waits likely to be causing an additional 14,000 more deaths a year, according to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine..
- The state of the NHS is not entirely due to what has happened within the health service, but also because the health of the general population has worsened.
- The UK has higher cancer mortality rates than other countries.
- Hospital staff numbers have increased since the pandemic, but the number of appointments and procedures hasn't because "patients no longer flow through hospitals as they should".
- Lack of investment has resulted in "crumbling buildings", mental health patients in "Victoria-era cells infested with vermin" and "parts of the NHS operating in decrepit portacabins".
Lord Darzi also warned of the "dire" state of social care, which he said was not "valued or resourced sufficiently".
Healthwatch England (HWE) has responded.
William Pett, HWE Head of Policy, said:
"People will welcome Lord Darzi's prognosis on the NHS. Although the NHS does much good, patients repeatedly share their frustrations and confusion about accessing care.
"GP access is difficult, NHS dentistry is in disarray, and people face excessive waiting times for hospital treatment. These challenges are not experienced equally, with poorer communities hit hardest.
"Restoring public confidence in the NHS and delivering timely, safe and quality care must focus on the issues that matter most to people now and in the future."We’re calling for improvements to patient communications and administration, giving people a choice of how to access care, a better listening culture within the NHS, and for services to be measured against the quality of patient experiences, not just the length of time they wait for care.
"The public will welcome the chance to help shape the future of healthcare and reset the contract between them and the NHS. Especially if it results in clearer rights, more responsive services and an equal say in their care."
Read coverage of the report, and of the Healthwatch response, on the BBC.
