What are the major aims of the promised 10-year plan?
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has told the NHS Confederation conference of his aims for a long-term funding environment that focuses on productivity, efficiency and reducing waste.
His speech came as the health and social care service awaits news on the government’s promised 10-year plan. Rumours have surfaced that Prime Minister Theresa May is deliberating over a £4-6bn a year settlement.
In his speech, Mr Hunt repeated his intention that the NHS should focus on care pathways, prevention and involving the public in creating the plans.
However, he added that talks with government about a long-term settlement for the NHS are ‘difficult and ongoing’ and any deal would be linked to ‘simple goals’.
Goals would include:
- waiting time standards for mental health that are equivalent to standards for physical health
- raising cancer survival rates to be the best in Europe
- raising maternity safety standards
- integrating health and social care
He said: ‘If you give the NHS simple clear goals, we will deliver those goals. But we will also be saying something to the British people, we will be saying, no we do not accept that the NHS is condemned to inevitable decline.’
Further information
NHS Confederation: Confed18
Wellards: PM to give NHS a ‘significant’ cash boost
King’s Fund: An open letter: a long-term funding settlement for the NHS