An independent investigation into the state of the NHS conducted by Lord Art Darzi has been published. It has prompted prime minister Keir Starmer to pledge "biggest reimagining of our NHS since its birth" in a speech today (12 September).
Lord Darzi’s report concluded the service is in a "critical condition" amidst surging waiting lists and a deterioration in the nation’s underlying health, identifying serious and widespread problems for people accessing services.
The prime minister said the scale of the damage done to the NHS revealed by the report is “unforgivable”.
Starmer said the government's 10-year plan for the NHS, expected in the coming months, will be "so different from anything that has gone before", and will be framed around three big shifts.
The first is moving from an analogue to a digital NHS. He said it should be "a tomorrow service not just a today service."
The second is to make the shift from hospitals to community care by improving access to GPs, bringing back "the family doctor" and offering digital consultations.
The third is to move from sickness to prevention.
RCN general secretary and chief executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: “Moving care into the community and supporting people to live healthier lives is key to repairing our health service, taking that pressure and congestion off the hospital and even more importantly improving population health.
“But a fundamental shift to a community care model cannot simply be wished into existence, especially with thousands fewer specialist community nurses. Only dedicated investment to boost recruitment into nursing can ensure we have enough highly trained staff, where patients need them.”
After giving his prepared comments, Starmer took questions from journalists.
A reporter from Sky News asked how the NHS will be improved in the short term.
Starmer said change is going to take a long time and that he doesn't want to use "sticking plaster politics" with little fixes here and there or put off big reform because it's "too hard".
The prime minister was also questioned on the previous government's promise to build 40 new hospitals over 10 years. This plan was put on pause by Labour when they came into power, but Starmer said the government is still committed to building the hospitals with a more realistic plan.
Chief executive of NHS Providers, Sir Julian Hartley said: "To build an NHS fit for the future, the NHS needs to work differently and go further and faster to improve care for patients."
"With the 10-year plan for the NHS on the horizon, trust leaders are ready and willing to work with the government to get to grips with the challenges facing the health and social care."
