On the day the NHS celebrates its 75th anniversary, three of the sector’s most influential think tanks have co-signed a letter warning political leaders that, without a shift in priority away from short-termism, the health service might not be able to reach its centenary.
The letter, which has been written by chief executives at the Health Foundation, Nuffield Trust and The King’s Fund, is addressed to the heads of the country’s three largest political parties and calls on them to make the next election a “decisive break point” by ending years of short-term thinking.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Lib Dem head Sir Ed Davey are reminded that “the NHS remains the jewel in the country’s crown, even if it is losing its shine.”
Public satisfaction for the health service is at its lowest in 40 years – since the statistic was first tracked. The growing backlog and unprecedented levels of industrial action are just two of the contributory factors to the “extreme” pressure the health service finds itself under.
Despite this, the chief executives emphasise how the public has remained steadfast in its support for the NHS, especially for its founding principles: free at the point of use, comprehensive and available to all.
The letter warns that, although recovering services and cutting waiting times should be a priority for any government, without the requisite long-term strategy to address the underlying causes of the crisis, the ambitious targets put in place are doomed to fail.
The letter therefore outlines four key areas where long-term policies, in conjunction with suitable funding, would help steer the NHS back onto the straight and narrow:
- Invest in the tangible resources the health service needs – i.e. beds, equipment, new technology and estates
- Deliver a “long overdue” reform of adult social care
- Commit to a cross-government plan in the next parliament to improve the underlying social and economic conditions that affect the nation’s health
- Ensure the recently published workforce is given the tools and “sustained commitment” it needs to succeed
The think tank chiefs write: “The next government will face a choice between providing the investment and reform needed to preserve the NHS for future generations or continuing with short termism and managed decline that gradually erodes the guarantee of safety in place of fear it was designed to create.
“Persisting with the current addiction to short-termism and eye-catching initiatives will risk the health service being unable to adapt to the huge challenges ahead and reach its centenary. It is time to move away from quick fixes and over-promising what the NHS can deliver and give it the tools it needs to succeed.”
The letter is signed by the Health Foundation’s chief executive, Dr Jennifer Dixon, chief executive at the Nuffield Trust, Nigel Edwards, and Richard Murray, the chief executive of The King’s Fund.
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