Posted 11th June 2010
News excerpt from Department of Health's website 9th June 2010
In his first speech since taking up the post, the Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, said he would put his heart and soul into the improvement of health outcomes by making patients the driving force of improvements to the NHS. Not just as beneficiaries of care but as participants, with shared decision-making.
As part of his broader plans to align payments with the quality of patient care, the Health Secretary said that hospitals should be responsible for reducing the number of emergency readmissions following treatment, and support treatment at home, as part of a single payment. Making hospitals responsible for a patient’s ongoing care after discharge will create more joined-up working between hospitals and community services. This will improve quality and performance and shift the focus to the outcome for the patient, rather than the volume of activity paid to the hospital.
Speaking to an audience of patients, carers and staff at an event at the Bromley by Bow Centre in London, hosted by the Patients Association and National Voices, the Health Secretary challenged the NHS to:
Source: Department of Health Website
Another newsletter another government, and the NHS looks set to be reshaped and repackaged, whether anything good will come out of this, who knows, but already health professionals have been warning me about budget cuts in their departments which are likely to affect my clients.&...