Setting out his plans for ‘an NHS fit for the future’ at the Progressive Britain conference yesterday, Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer said: “we stand on the cusp of a revolution that could transform healthcare for the better.” His message was: “science and technology are the game-changers.”
He outlined what he termed three “shifts” if his goals – to put the “NHS back on its feet” but in a way that is “fit for the future,” are to be achieved. The first two of these shifts are to move care closer to the community and to change the mindset so healthcare is about prevention, not sickness. The third shift, moving from an analogue to a digital NHS, will accelerate the first two and “herald a different kind of healthcare.”
Keir Starmer described Britain as a “world leader” in science and technology, adding that we are “good” at AI, which, he said “will change the nature of healthcare.” What does this shift take? It takes the politicians to catch up with the public, and the NHS to catch up with the digital revolution that is happening elsewhere in our lives.
Goals
• Meet critical targets for ambulances, A&E, waiting list reductions
• Focus on health inequalities and improve life expectancy for all
• Target the biggest killers: cardiovascular disease; cancer; and suicide.
Plans
• Expansion of NHS training, fully-funded by removing the non-dom tax status
• Give patients choice where faster treatment is available at a nearby hospital
• Improve GP access and make the future of general practice more sustainable
• Modernise the appointments system with a choice of routes
• Make good on the integration of health and social care
• Tackle delayed discharges
• Recruit and retain more carers with fair pair
• Take “bold action” on intervention
• Revolutionise mental health treatment with 8,500 new mental health professions, specialist access in every school and guaranteed treatment inside four weeks
• Breakfast clubs with healthy food for all primary school children
• Commit to restoring a decent homes standard
• Regulate the water industry
• Introduce a new clean air act
• Take the social media companies to task
• Change advertising rules so no harmful products may be advertised to children.
Capital
In his speech, Keir Starmer stated that money is only part of the solution to the problems faced by the NHS. He added that his vision is for a renewed NHS that can make the most of the money that is invested in it.
A supporting document clarifies that all NHS capital projects will be assessed, before any more money is committed, to ensure funding is allocated efficiently, waste is eliminated and the projects that are being prioritised are the ones that will deliver care to patients faster.
In conclusion, the Labour Leader acknowledged: “The NHS is not sustainable unless we make serious, deep, long-term changes. That’s my politics. Reform for renewal. National missions for the common good. An NHS fit for the future.”
This requires a partnership – between people and service that builds on what is distinctive about the NHS as a health system.
