Press release: Greater choice could transform NHS say health service leaders
08 Sep 2003
Greater choice for patients represents an opportunity to transform the NHS but the scale of the challenge should not be underestimated, the NHS Confederation says in welcoming today's launch of a national consultation on choice, responsiveness and equity in the NHS.
Dr Gill Morgan, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation said: "Giving patients a greater choice is an important priority for the health service. It holds out the prospect of a transformed NHS, with more responsive and flexible services, tailored around the individual, with patients in the driving seat.
"We particularly welcome the focus on widening the choices already available to the 17.5 million people with long term chronic conditions who often want not just a say in where and when they are treated, but the type of care they receive and how it is delivered.
"But we should not underestimate the challenges ahead. Making choice a reality will require a revolution in the way the NHS works. Patients will need much better information to enable them to make informed decisions. A greater diversity of providers will need to be matched by more flexible ways of buying care for local communities. And there will need to be a fundamental culture change in the relationship between patients and professionals.
"The consultation needs to focus not just on neat policy interventions, but how we can work within the service to bring this culture change about."
ENDS
Notes for editors
- The NHS Confederation represents the organisations that make up the NHS. Our members include the majority of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; trusts and NHS boards in Scotland; and health and social services trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
- The Confederation recently published a report Chronic Disease: the hidden health agenda at Connecting 2003, our Annual Conference. Click here for copies (members only) or contact the press office.
Contact details
- Contact Media Relations Manager Joanna Clason on 020 7074 3306 or 07798 571078 or Senior Media Officer Amy Darlington on 020 7074 3304 or 07767 770309. For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.
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