{"id":1463701,"date":"2024-01-25T10:48:16","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T10:48:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=1673712"},"modified":"2024-01-25T10:48:16","modified_gmt":"2024-01-25T10:48:16","slug":"a-think-tank-has-a-radical-plan-for-the-nhs-scrapping-the-hospital-model-of-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2024\/01\/25\/a-think-tank-has-a-radical-plan-for-the-nhs-scrapping-the-hospital-model-of-care\/","title":{"rendered":"A think tank has a radical plan for the NHS: scrapping the hospital model of care"},"content":{"rendered":"
The NHS<\/a> should replace its traditional general hospital model to improve outcomes and reduce cost pressures, a new report from a think tank says. Its authors say the government is using “strikes as a convenient excuse” for the chaos in the NHS. So, the Canary<\/em> would like to hear your thoughts on the plans.<\/p>\n The proposals come as part of a paper published on Thursday 25 January by the centre-left think tank the Social Market Foundation<\/a>. It’s authored by Nick Bosanquet, former professor of health policy at Imperial College, and Andrew Haldenby, an experienced adviser to public service organisations. You can read the report here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Together, they set out a plan for what they claim will be a more efficient NHS, featuring teams led by GPs and including physiotherapists, counsellors, and specialist \u2018Dynamo\u2019 operating centres, with the goal of making many trips for hospital treatment obsolete: 30% fewer NHS patients should be attending hospitals in 10 years\u2019 time, the paper proposes.<\/p>\n The government’s \u00a320bn New Hospital Programme, which entails building 40 new hospitals in England, has been beset by delays and rising costs, and largely replaces existing beds, the paper highlights. The Labour Party has signalled that it will review investment into the New Hospital Programme.<\/p>\n Bosanquet and Haldenby argue that it should be cancelled and its funds used to invest in a modern hospital system. As the report points out<\/a>:<\/p>\n The proposals in the report say that a modern system would feature a local GP-led teams \u2013 a team of health professionals managing all out-of-hospital services in an area, with the aim of reducing hospital admissions over time. These \u2018Neighbourhood Teams\u2019 would be tasked with reducing hospital admissions by 30%.<\/p>\n Without swift action, the paper suggests, the NHS is drifting towards a three-tier system: worst in deprived areas, better in affluent areas, and with more people buying private care.<\/p>\n Maintaining the district general hospital model prevents policymakers from addressing Britain\u2019s changing health needs, and obstructs the NHS from making necessary efficiencies.<\/p>\n A patient could be treated by their neighbourhood team of healthcare professionals at home, resulting in a more cost-effective outcome than hospital-based care, with the potential to treat four times as many patients in a month.<\/p>\n Neighbourhood Teams would also maintain continuity of care, which is becoming a more important requirement, given the rise in long term conditions which have physical and mental health elements.<\/p>\n Neighbourhood Teams would be complemented by \u201cdynamo centres\u201d, with more operating capacity than the new surgical hub units \u2013 and should be modelled on the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (rated \u201camong the best in the country\u201d).<\/p>\n These would be highly specialised, and treat a large enough area such that 24\/7 staffing by consultants would be viable. The specialisation and concentration would boost output and success rates, ultimately bringing down waiting lists.<\/p>\n Remaining district general hospitals would then be left to focus on providing A&E services, and work with Neighbourhood Teams.<\/p>\n Bosanquet said:<\/p>\n The NHS\u2019s enormous current resources can deliver a faster, better service within months, even in a climate of great pressure on public spending.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Haldenby said:<\/p>\n Ministers are using strikes as a convenient excuse for rising waiting lists. The NHS has talked about the right kind of change for years but progress has been glacial.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Jamie Gollings, Deputy Research Director at Social Market Foundation said:<\/p>\n Addressing Britain\u2019s changing healthcare needs whilst delivering better value for public money is challenging, but possible.<\/p>\n The plan Bosanquet and Haldenby lay out requires great political will to shift our focus away from the traditional hospital model, but there are existing examples to learn from that show how it can be changed. Their paper shows how we can build greater and swifter operating capacity and deliver more healthcare in the community, and cut our losses on the increasingly delayed and burdensome New Hospital Programme.<\/p>\n The hospital must become a last resort for patients, and they must have avenues for care that preempt and avoid it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n What do you think of the Social Market Foundation’s proposals? Write a letter for us to publish – email membership(at)thecanary.co<\/strong><\/p>\n Featured image via NHS England – YouTube<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n By The Canary<\/a><\/p>\n\nNHS: time for a radical change?<\/h2>\n
Swift action is needed<\/h2>\n
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A new path for the NHS?<\/h2>\n
Government using “strikes as a convenient excuse”<\/h2>\n