The UK Government has published a report into the state of the NHS in England, commissioned by Wes Streeting when he became Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in July. The Independent Investigation of the National Health Service in England confirms that the NHS is in a "critical condition" – with growing waiting lists, missed targets for A&E and hospital treatments, and poor survival rates for cancer and heart disease. However, the report’s author, Lord Darzi stresses that "its vital signs are strong".
The report blames the far-reaching consequences of under-investment throughout the 2010s and the long-term impacts of the 2012 Health and Social Care Act, described as “a calamity without international precedent”.
Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer has promised big reforms for the NHS with a new 10-year plan due to be published next spring which will focus on three big shifts:
- From hospital care to community care
- From analogue to digital
- From treating sickness to preventing it
Tracy Nicholls speaking for the College of Paramedics said:
“We welcome this report which acknowledges the enormous issues facing the NHS, and support the drive to reform health services to meet patient needs, but this will only be achieved by understanding the impact paramedics and allied health professionals have in supporting people....
With 25 per cent of the paramedic workforce already specialising in clinical areas that will support the recovery of emergency and urgent care, such as frailty, end of life care, mental health, maternity, and public health. Paramedics are uniquely placed to work with a range of other allied health professionals to care for high-risk patients in the community who have been discharged, or to attend low-risk patients who they may be able to prevent from hospital admission.
The College welcomes the move to a more digitally- enabled health and care service which will provide patients with more seamless treatments and care and will enable paramedics to better communicate with other healthcare providers, supporting safer patient care episodes.
Paramedics are ideally placed to support a stronger population health approach to the public and often see those who fall through the gaps of other health and care services. Working closely with GPs and community teams, paramedics will add value to the wider team and help to ensure patients can be held in their preferred places of care for longer, thereby reducing the demand placed on ambulance services and EDs currently. The College will continue to engage with decision-makers to ensure the skills and knowledge of Paramedics are recognised and utilised in the reform of health services.”
Independent Investigation of the National Health Service in England (publishing.service.gov.uk)