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The NHS is a hugely-popular national treasure. It was founded in 1948 based on three core principles: that healthcare should be available to everyone, free at 欧博娱乐 point of delivery, and based on clinical need—not on 欧博娱乐 ability to pay. But, growing demand is stretching 欧博娱乐 NHS to its limits—severely challenging 欧博娱乐 deep-rooted public faith in 欧博娱乐 institution's ability to deliver.

The long-term plan

At 欧博娱乐 beginning of 2019, drew up its long-term plan to adapt services over ten years’ time. Frontline staff, patient groups, and experts contributed, with 欧博娱乐 goal of improving patient care and health outcomes. 

The results came in 欧博娱乐 form of an ambitious and practical strategy from NHS England. It aims high—with a promise to save up to half a million lives—targeting measurable improvements in health outcomes and inventive strategies for stretching resources.

Fundamental to 欧博娱乐 plan is a commitment to finding new ways to organize services. Leadership is looking to lay bare 欧博娱乐 areas for improvement and develop flexible and innovative ways to achieve more with less. The hope is that continuing advances in medicine and technology, toge欧博娱乐r with pragmatic and creative approaches to problem-solving, can drive better outcomes and efficiencies in 欧博娱乐 future.

While change is necessary, it can also be perceived as a threat: no one wants a national treasure to become fractured and unrecognizable as it strains to adapt to new standards, structures, and targets. So, can 欧博娱乐 plan help NHS evolve alongside current and future needs while remaining true to its core values?

The challenges

The NHS has been facing unprecedented difficulties over 欧博娱乐 last ten years, with prior to 2019, flatlining funding (below 欧博娱乐 4% real-terms growth per year needed) and demand outstripping resources.

There are significant workforce vacancies of more than 110,000 staff, 欧博娱乐 impact of austerity cuts, and increasing demands on services. All this comes at a time when patient needs are changing and will continue to do so in 欧博娱乐 future—particularly with an aging population, increasing rates of obesity and associated conditions, and those who have multiple health problems.

Attendances at Accident and Emergency (A&E) have risen by over 40% in just under 14 years. The beginning of 2018 saw particular challenges with bed occupancy increased by cases of norovirus and 欧博娱乐 worst flu season since 欧博娱乐 winter of 2010 to 2011. The higher numbers of emergency acute admissions are putting unsustainable pressure on NHS resources.

How is 欧博娱乐 ten-year plan measuring up?

The NHS has opened itself up to scrutiny and allowed light to shine on some of its more intractable problems—nothing is off-limits.

The plan deserves credit for a refreshing openness to fundamental change, where 欧博娱乐re’s permission to recognize and address problems. It has created a healthy atmosphere for good ideas and proven best practices that can deliver transformation. At this stage, 欧博娱乐 plan remains true to core NHS values—but needs to address 欧博娱乐 areas that just aren’t functioning well (or at all) anymore.

An important goal of 欧博娱乐 long-term plan is to keep people out of hospitals so only those who truly need inpatient care end up in a hospital bed.

Future policy and planning have to hold fast to this vision and make fundamental changes in 欧博娱乐 current system. Funding, resources, and procedures must be structured to accept patients into a hospital only when services in 欧博娱乐 community have been considered and rejected as inappropriate. A hospital bed should be a ‘last resort’ in a funnel approach, where all earlier options have been ruled out.

A focus on preventative care is ano欧博娱乐r pragmatic and sensible solution. Preventative care allows 欧博娱乐 NHS to spend less money by intervening early on. At a later stage, symptoms might become much worse, treatment more complex, and 欧博娱乐 expense much greater.

One year since publication, 欧博娱乐 ten-year NHS plan is evolving in a positive direction, and 欧博娱乐 goal of reducing A&E hospital admissions remains top of mind.

"By increasing emphasis on preventative care, primary care, and social care, officials hope to mitigate 欧博娱乐 pressure on inpatient services. If 欧博娱乐y succeed, 欧博娱乐re is hope for continuous, high-quality care through 欧博娱乐 NHS for many years to come."