Transforming care in England
One of the challenges identified by the Kings Fund for the NHS in England is developing new and better models of care – they write:
The ageing population, changing patterns of disease – with more people living with multiple long-term conditions – and rising public and patient expectations mean that fundamental changes are required to the way in which care is delivered (see Transforming the delivery of health and social care: the case for fundamental change).
What should be done?
Realising this transformation will require a radical shift to involve individuals more fully in their own health and care. This will include making shared decision-making a reality, giving people the support and information they need for effective self-management, involving families and carers, giving people personal budgets where appropriate, and engaging people in keeping healthy. The evidence is clear: most people want to be more involved, and when they are, decisions are better, health and health outcomes improve, and resources are allocated more efficiently.
Much greater priority should also be given to public health and prevention. Because of the complex range of influences on population health, this will require collaboration between the NHS, local government, the third sector, employers and others. It will also require action by government, as exemplified by the proposed levy on the soft drinks industry to help tackle childhood obesity. We have outlined opportunities for local authorities to use their powers to improve the health of their populations as part of a broader move towards population health systems.
The implementation of new care models should build on those outlined in the NHS five year forward view. Closer clinical and service integration is needed between hospitals, community services and general practices, health and social care, and physical and mental health. Our work has described examples of specialists working more closely with primary care teams and of general practices collaborating in federations and networks to show how new care models can contribute.
We need a workforce that is fit for purpose, able to adapt to changing demographics and aligned to the new care models outlined in the Forward View. To address this, a national workforce strategy is needed to attract, train, retain and develop the talent it requires to succeed in the long term. This strategy should include consideration of remuneration, training, culture and career development.
We also need to embrace innovations in digital and other technologies, for example, implementing an electronic care record to facilitate access to information about patients wherever they seek care.
“The challenges are immense and the outcomes could be for better or worse”
