The Big 5 Questions.
By The Team 03 Mar 2010.
0 comments
Quality and productivity are the two big challanges for the NHS. As a commissioner, how do you see these being compatible?
In principle quality and productivity are compatible. If you do something well immediately you don’t have to improve on it. Doing something once and well is clearly the most cost effective way of doing things.
I think this applies well to one off interventions, like treating a broken leg, or diagnosing a heart murmur, or for A&E admissions. I think it’s more complex in long-term conditions where patients need constant attention, although the same principles should apply.
However, although we need to make improvements, we’re not going to solve everything through productivity. The problem is too big. There is still too large a gap between the resources available and the demands on those resources.
It’s very clear now that the NHS will have less to spend from 2011 onwards. Do you think this is sustainable?
Quite simply, there is no option. It has to be sustainable. David Nicholson has mandated that the NHS has to spend £15-20bn less on services.
Some of the saving will be addressed by productivity improvements. We will be failing in our duties if we don’t take every opportunity to improve productivity.
We must also work with public and patients to encourage them to take responsibility in any way they can.
Will that be enough?
I don’t know. I doubt it. Politicians will have to accept that they can’t offer everything to everyone all of the time.
It’s an issue that needs much greater interaction with the public, encouraging them to take responsibility for their health and to take good care of themselves.
How do you believe the NHS constitution can be brought to life for both patients and staff?
The values and intentions of the NHS constitution are admirable and should be fully supported - but using the word ‘constitution’ is a misnomer and can be distracting. A constitution would normally involve governance or decision making, which clearly the NHS Constitution does not.
As a statement of how everyone should behave, however, the NHS Constitution is good in every way. And the way to bring this to life is to actually do it. Actions speak louder than words.
The Constitution sets out how we should all behave on a day to day basis, and by everyone changing their behaviour the Constitution is automatically brought to life.
What helps you switch off at the end of the day?
Nothing is better than a healthy family meal, sharing good food and conversation, and maybe listening to a Mozart opera or Schubert piano music.
