14 December 2001
Better medical techniques, new drugs and an ageing population would increase demand for care, although the latter would not have as great an effect as once was thought.
'For me the biggest driver of all is patient and public expectation. This is and will continue to be the biggest influence on the development of the NHS today, next week, next year, in 20 years and beyond,' he said.
'The public want waiting reduced in every possible respect – the wait to see a GP, to be called to outpatients, given inpatient care and in A&E. They want higher quality care, more local services and to be treated in a better environment.'
The public will look to inspectorates such as the Commission for Health Improvement to ensure progress is made.
But delegates complained that even the most positive Chi reports led to bad publicity in the media.
Peter Homa, chief executive of Chi, promised the commission would give a fair representation of its findings. But, he added, an open and honest relationship with the media often paid dividends.
'The level of media interest is inevitable and it tends to focus on the negative,' he said. 'We have tracked the local media to see what has happened over time after publication of our reports.'
He added: 'Where there was evidence of improvement and senior managers were keeping in touch with the media, the accounts have tended to change to "progress is now being made".'
PFdec2001
