What patients want: a vision for the NHS in 2030
Where we are now?
Healthwatch are presenting this vision at a time when the NHS faces the most significant pressures in its history. It's not surprising that confidence that the NHS can provide for everyone is being undermined, with 43% of people believing the NHS cannot meet the whole country's needs.
Our vision therefore calls for a focus on three key themes:
- Making the NHS easier to access and navigate.
- Tackling health inequalities.
- Building a patient-centred culture.
- Making the NHS easier to access and navigate
We all want to be seen quickly when we have new symptoms or concerns about our health. But alongside quicker access, patients also want simplicity at each touchpoint with the NHS. People told us they felt admin and communication can be slow, inefficient and sometimes lacking empathy.
We want the NHS to consistently adopt an ‘excellent customer service’ ethos, ensuring people can get their queries answered and appointments booked. We also want patients to be able to access real-time information about their care, and have a two-way dialogue with those responsible for their care.
Tackling health inequalities
Health inequalities in England are stark and growing. Those living in the most deprived areas can expect to live in good health for a far shorter period compared to those in the least deprived areas. Multiple factors create these inequalities, but in healthcare people experience varying quality of care.
We want the NHS to provide excellent care for everyone. Gaps in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy between the most well off and deprived areas should be falling by 2030. We are also calling for Integrated Care Systems to work with local councils to ensure communities get advice and support to prevent ill health, and that people with extra communication needs receive full support every time they interact with the NHS.
Building a patient-centred culture in the NHS
The majority of patients told us they felt respected by healthcare professionals. However, we see that the care experience varies considerably. The NHS still has a culture focused on the system’s business – not that of the patients.
By 2030, we want a fundamental shift in the culture of the NHS so that there is a greater focus on listening to patients and acting on their experiences to improve care today and in the future.
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Full report: What patients want - a vision for the NHS in 2030
