Brown outlines plans for NHS in a ‘new era’
pharmafile | September 25, 2007 | News story | |
The Prime Minister has outlined his plans to provide NHS patients with a more personalised service fit for the 21st century.
In his first speech as leader to the Labour Party conference, Gordon Brown praised the NHS as "the best insurance policy in the world", but said it needed to enter a new era.
"Our great achievement of the 1940s was a service universal to all. In 2007, we need a service that is accessible to all and personal to all.
"Our great ambition now is a National Health Service that is also a personal health service," he told conference delegates in Bournemouth, adding that major practical changes were needed to set new standards of service.
These include making GP surgery hours more family-friendly, expanding walk-in centres and improving telephone helpline service NHS Direct.
There are also plans for every adult to have a regular NHS check up and to extend the age limit for breast and colon cancer screening.
Measures to tackle hospital-acquired infections, such as the deadly 'superbug' MRSA, will also be increased, with new funds for a deep-clean of every hospital and a larger role for hospital matrons.
The numbers of matrons will be doubled to 5,000 and they will gain new powers to crackdown on cleaning contractors.
"Matrons will have the power to order additional cleaning and send out a message – meet the highest standards of cleanliness or lose your contract," the Prime Minster said.
Backing up matrons will be a new hospital regulator with the power to impose fines and close down entire wards in hospitals that do not meet hygiene requirements and there will be an aggressive programme of intensive deep-cleaning.
Trusts already undertake deep-cleaning programmes, often using specialist equipment on a ward-by-ward basis, but this will be the first time they have been asked to deep-clean their entire site – restoring surfaces and fabrics as close as possible to their original condition.
