NHS Confederation responds to the major conditions strategy case for change and strategic framework
Responding to the major conditions strategy case for change and strategic framework Danny Mortimer, deputy chief executive of NHS Confederation said:
“Healthcare leaders will welcome the direction of travel set out in the major conditions strategy case for change and strategic framework and look forward to it being used as a basis for action to reduce ill health, extend healthy life expectancy by 2035, and utilise prevention to improve care for people with any or all of the six major conditions.
“Given the previously planned Health Disparities White Paper has been absorbed by this new strategy, they need to see the strategy translate into decisive action across government to tackle chronic comorbidities and the disparities between different communities, as well as reducing demand for NHS services for the longer term.
"There is however concern that the government is stepping back from some of the ambitions it has previously set out. The cross-government strategy on mental health was, for example, also absorbed into this work and was critical to shifting the dial to focus on preventing mental ill-health and aimed to make services more sustainable in the future. Worryingly the government is currently only committed to providing mental health support teams in just over one in four schools. To fully assist children and to reduce regional inequality, healthcare leaders want to see a commitment from government to fund mental health support teams in all schools.
"Joint working will be vital to the delivery of this strategy, and the 42 integrated care systems across England offer an ideal way to implement it. They have already worked to create the conditions that allow joint work across the NHS, local government and the voluntary sector to improve population health and wellbeing. There is the equivalent need to ensure that all parts of nationally driven public policy and investment also play their part in creating healthier communities."
