Coalition of healthcare bodies sets out reform priorities

10 Sep 14
A coalition of 21 healthcare bodies has called for NHS services to be reconfigured to meet the needs of the growing numbers of people with ongoing issues, especially older people, those with long term conditions and children with disabilities.

By Richard Johnstone | 11 September 2014

A coalition of 21 healthcare bodies has called for NHS services to be reconfigured to meet the needs of the growing numbers of people with ongoing issues, especially older people, those with long term conditions and children with disabilities.

The 2015 Challenge Manifesto, published today by the NHS Confederation, has set out 15 ‘asks’ of government to ensure the future of health and care.

Although this calls for no top-down reorganisations of the healthcare system, the group – which also includes the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the Local Government Association – said new models of care were needed, particularly for these groups.

Politicians must play a leadership role in ensuring debates about change focus constructively on the implications for people’s health and wellbeing, the manifesto said, as part of a government-wide approach to keeping people well.

As part of reforms to social care provision, the group backed LGA calls for a longer-term settlement for health and care that support service change, as well as the creation of a £2bn fund to support the implementation of reform.
This should be matched by what it called ‘political accountability’ for funding, recognising that health and care will not be able to continue delivering everything it does at the moment within current resources.

The coalition also called for flexibility over providers within new organisational models, including a clarified policy on provider futures and the pipeline for foundation trusts.

In addition, ministers must build consensus around the expectations on the health and care workforce to provide seven-day services, as well as ensuring genuine parity of esteem for mental health.

Setting out the manifesto, NHS Confederation chief executive Rob Webster said: ‘Back in May, the 2015 Challenge Declaration set out the seven major challenges facing health and care. Overcoming these is going to take political courage and a real debate on how to provide the funding and support radical changes in care.

‘Instead we have had a summer of silence, punctuated by announcements on parking, contracting and hospital food. These are important issues but none of them tackle the fundamental challenges. Today, we have set out a clear vision of a future health service which is better for patients and is sustainable. We look to politicians of all parties for honesty, courage and substance between now and the general election.’

The Healthcare Financial Management Association, which also signed the manifesto, warned the current funding model was not fit for the future and there was an urgent need to change the way we provide services.

Director of policy Paul Briddock said: ‘We are proud to be part of the 2015 Challenge Manifesto and its aim to highlight the very real challenges facing the NHS and social care.

‘We believe that an open and honest debate is needed between the public and all political parties about the future of health and care services; the scale of the financial challenges; what these mean for service provision and care and the actions required.’

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