Next stage for the NHS
02 July 2008

Following a 12 month investigation into health services across England, Health Minister Lord Darzi has published his ‘NHS Next Stage Review’ report with an emphasis on care for people with long-term conditions. Launching the report to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the NHS, he stressed how important quality of care was, wherever and however people access it.

‘Lord Darzi has produced a blueprint for transforming quality of care in the NHS,’ said Neil Churchill, Asthma UK’s Chief Executive. ‘We’re particularly pleased that the Government is sticking to it's commitment to ensure everyone with asthma is offered a personal care plan by 2010.’

‘Care plans play a crucial role in helping keep asthma under control and without one people with asthma are four times more likely to have an asthma attack resulting in emergency hospital treatment. Despite this, seven out of ten people with asthma don’t have one so it’s vital the Government now outlines clearly how they intend to honour this promise.’

Asthma UK will be pursuing a number of specific commitments made in the report by NHS regions. Yorkshire and Humber, for example, have promised to halve the number of emergency hospital admissions for asthma. Other regions have pledged to improve the transition from child to adult asthma services. The charity will also continue to campaign to ensure all people with asthma across the whole of the UK receive the best possible care.

As part of his consultation Lord Darzi met people with long-term conditions at a meeting hosted by Asthma UK in March. Attendees were asked their views on how health services needed to improve over the next ten years. ‘I've come here today because you can tell me what it means to live with a long term condition and what needs to change to improve your healthcare and quality of life,’ said Lord Darzi.

With this feedback, and input from a range of patients, healthcare professionals and other health service users, Lord Darzi has put together a vision of what can be expected from health services in England in the next ten years.