Liberating the NHS

www.dh.gov.uk/liberatingthenhs 

Valuing People Now Delivery Plan 2010-11

The Government published Valuing People Now in January 2009. this cross Government strategy laid out the vision that all people with a learning disability are people first, with the right to lead their lives like any others, with the same opportunities and responsibilities, and to be treated with the same dignity and respect.

At the same time the Delivery Plan for 2009-2010 was launched outlining six key priorities and the actions that were required nationally, regionally and locally to secure implementation.

People with learning disabilities, family carers, central and local government, the NHs, the voluntary and private sectors have taken up the challenge of making Valuing People Now happen for all people with learning disabilities everywhere.

Building the National Care Service

 The Department of Health white paper charts a number of fundamental reforms of the care and support system in England.  The white paper sets out the Government’s proposal to build a new National Care Service for all who needs it, which offers high quality care, and support for all, wherever you live in England and whatever your care and support needs are.  

The Government has consulted through the Big Care Debate on various ways of establishing a National Care Service.  Under the implement of the White paper, the Government is committed to a National Care Service, which protects people from losing their homes or their savings through the cost of paying for care for themselves or their loved ones.  

Through the creation of the National Care Service, it will ensure that a fair system, based on a principle of shared social insurance is established. It has also highlighted an ageing population, increasing numbers of people with varying and complex needs and in order to meet people’s expectations the current system must be transformed so that it is fair, simple and affordable for everyone and sustainable for the future. 

The full report can be found at www.dh.gov.uk

Please let the LINk know what you think about these reforms.    

New patient rights in force - Department of Health

From today (1 April 2010), all NHS patients in England have new legal rights to fast treatment, enshrined in the NHS Constitution.

Anyone suspected of having cancer who is urgently referred by their GP will have the legal right to wait no more than 2 weeks to see a specialist, and people referred for elective procedures will have the legal right to start treatment within 18 weeks.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said:

'The NHS Constitution gives patients the right to get the services that they are entitled to, and the power to challenge the NHS where it does not deliver. 

'These new rights build on the significant achievements of the NHS in bringing waiting times from referral to treatment down to an average of around 8 weeks, and saving lives through faster access to cancer specialists across the country.

'As the NHS continues to improve, so will its Constitution – that is why we are already looking ahead at future rights.  We want patients to have the legal right to key diagnostic tests and results for patients who may have cancer within one week of seeing a GP, to die at home, to evening and weekend access to GPs, and to access to NHS dentistry.

'As the NHS strives to move from good to great and becomes more people-centred and preventative, the Constitution will ensure that all the improvements it makes can be safeguarded for generations to come.”

In a recent consultation, nearly nine out of ten people supported the proposals to give patients the right to maximum waiting times for elective treatment and for urgent cancer referrals, or for the NHS to look for an alternative provider if this is not possible.
From April 2012, all those eligible aged 40-74 will have the legal right to an NHS Health Check every five years to assess their risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.

Work is already underway on future rights.  The Department of Health is working with Thomas Hughes-Hallett of Marie Curie to develop a right to die at home, and the previous consultation received public, patient and stakeholder support for a future right to waiting times for cancer diagnostics.  We have commenced plans for patients suspected of having cancer to get key diagnostic tests within one week of seeing a GP.  From 2011/12, the initial focus is on providing the tests and results associated with lung, colorectal and ovarian cancer within two weeks and subject to the necessary funding being available, this will then be expanded to include the relevant tests and results for all cancers within one week.

www.dh.gov.uk