Government signals shift away from NHS targets
pharmafile | February 12, 2004 | News story | |Â Â Â
The government has signalled that the profusion of targets introduced to measure NHS performance have done their job, and says emphasis should now shift to quality of care.
Health Secretary John Reid has launched a consultation on its proposed rationalisation of performance indicators and targets which it hopes to introduce in 2005-2006.
Mr Reid told NHS chief executives and senior clinicians: "NHS targets are working," adding that in four years time, near the end of the NHS Plan ten year period, most will have been reached.
Above all, he underlined success in halving maximum waiting times to under nine months although this has taken the seven years since Labour came to power in 1997.
Waits in A&E, and GP appointments have also fallen significantly and the government now wants to refocus performance around two sets of standards.
'Core standards' will outline the quality of care every patient can expect, while a second set of 'developmental' standards will set out what NHS organisations should aspire to, educating patients to manage their own long-term conditions, for example.
NHS professional organisations have welcomed the Standards for Better Health document and the accompanying consultation. James Johnson, chairman of the BMA said he was pleased the government had responded to its repeated calls for fewer targets and more useful information for patients.
"Doctors dislike and distrust the star ratings system. It serves only to measure the hospital's ability to meet political targets and fails to recognise the quality of patient care."
Mr Johnson added that the process interfered with patient care by skewing clinical priorities and neglecting needs of patients.
In the meantime, NHS trusts are now gearing up for this year's star ratings in April, which will also determine whether they receive additional funding or not.
The consultation runs until 4 May and the Standards for Better Health document is available on the Department of Health's website www.doh.gov.uk
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