News

21.02.17

King’s Fund: Politicians must back radical health changes for STPs to work

The King’s Fund has become the latest organisation to argue that although STPs offer the best hope of delivering NHS reform, the government must also be prepared to back radical changes to health services to ensure they can be successful in the future.

In a report released today, the health care think tank echoed the sentiments of other organisations such as Reform that engagement with staff, patients and the public remains a key topic in future STP growth, and that at present not enough is being done to create a dialogue between care providers and patients.

It supported reforms to the system where the case for change has been made, such as changes to the role of acute  hospitals to concentrate specialist services “where the evidence shows this will deliver better outcomes for patients”.

The point was also made once again that additional funding was needed for both health and social care to ensure STPs hit their care targets.

Its findings came just a few months after the think tank’s chief executive, Chris Ham, argued that if STPs do not work, then there is no plan B.

Today’s analysis looked at all 44 STPs in England and found that they presented a great opportunity to move care closer to patients, and in turn reduce growing pressure on hospitals by freeing up beds in already struggling A&E departments.

The review also found that the context in which STPs find themselves is far more challenging than the government anticipated in the Five Year Forward View, and that they needed more time to deliver reform for the NHS.

In it, the King’s Fund warned that focus on tackling financial and operational pressures could be negative in diverting attention away from work being done to transform care.

The report also called for “greater realism about the time needed to implement the changes that have been put forward and the leadership and governance required as STPs move to implement their proposals”.

Commenting on the latest findings, Ham said: “It is not credible for the government to argue that it has backed the NHS’s own plan unless it is prepared to support changes to services outlined in STPs.

“Local plans must be considered on their merits, but where a convincing case for change has been made, ministers and local politicians should back NHS leaders in implementing essential and often long-overdue changes to services.”

Ham went on to emphasise that a “huge effort” is needed to “make up lost ground by engaging with staff, patients and the public to explain the case for change and the benefits that will be delivered”.

Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become an NHE columnist? If so, click here.  

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

latest news

View all News

comment

NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

23/09/2019NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

Reason to celebrate as NHS says watching rugby can be good for your mental ... more >
Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Bei... more >

editor's comment

26/06/2020Adapting and Innovating

Matt Roberts, National Health Executive Editorial Lead. NHE May/June 2020 Edition We’ve been through so much as a health sector and a society in recent months with coronavirus and nothing can take away from the loss and difficulties that we’ve faced but it vital we also don’t disregard the amazing efforts we’ve witnessed. Staff have gone above and beyond, whole hospitals and trusts have flexed virtually at will to meet demand and pressures and we’ve... read more >

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our Last Word Q&A series. Would you talk us throu more > more last word articles >

interviews

Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

24/10/2019Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

Today, speaking at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual... more >

the scalpel's daily blog

Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

28/08/2020Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation The common enemy of coronavirus united the public side by side wi... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >

healthcare events

events calendar

back

September 2020

forward
mon tue wed thu fri sat sun
31 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11

featured articles

View all News