Connect Issue 13 - University Hospital Southampton NHS ...

6-7 CONNECT ISSUE 13
IN THE HOTSEAT
Lord Ara Darzi
The 60th anniversary of the NHS coincides with publication of Our NHS, our
future, a report by Lord Ara Darzi, which will shape the future direction of the NHS.
Here, the man who has been leading the review talks exclusively to Connect.
What is the purpose of the next
stage review you are leading
The Our NHS, our future Review is
an opportunity for NHS staff, patients
and the public to shape the NHS for
the next decade. The aim is to help
create a service that is clinicallydriven,
patient-centred and locally
accountable.
What are the three key
considerations in the review that you
feel will make patient care better
The single most important aspect
of the Review is that the priorities
are being set in every region of the
country by groups of clinicians.
It’s this leadership, together with
a clear focus on improving the
quality of care based on the best
available evidence and a willingness
to respond to the needs of patients
that will make a major difference.
In addition, the work that NHS
organisations, led by PCTs, do with
partners – including local authorities
and voluntary sector organisations
– will make the greatest difference
in helping people stay healthy for as
long as possible.
What do you see as the key lessons
the NHS could learn from the health
systems of other countries
Health systems in developed
countries around the world face
similar challenges today – including
ageing populations, ever increasing
technological capability and higher
expectations from patients
The NHS starts in a good position
to meet those challenges, not least
because the care we all provide is
available to all based on need and not
ability to pay. Many parts of the NHS
are already excellent even compared
with the best in other countries.
So it’s important that, in pursuing
improvements, we don’t discount the
benefits we already have.
However, there are some areas
in which we could make further
progress compared with the best
that other countries have to offer.
For example, we have to continue
to ensure consistent improvement in
survival rates from major diseases
such as cancer and cardiovascular
disease. We can provide more
information to patients and their
carers about the services they use.
And we can make greater use of IT
to help develop more responsive and
seamless services.
How do you expect clinicians to
work to implement the review and
what timelines are there
The best thing clinicians can do is to
continue the work they have done in
leading the Review across the country.
I want this work to go on well after the
Review has concluded in June. I will
use my final report then to show how
we can support people to make the
changes they have identified.
Making these changes will
require the energy, ideas and
professionalism of NHS staff. It will
need a clearer focus on clinical
leadership in decision making from
everyday issues to the configuration
of services.
What do you see as the big future
changes a regional university
hospital like ours should be
anticipating from the conclusion of
the review
I believe that major hospitals
like yours are already responding
to the challenges this Review is
meeting. You are already seeking to
provide the highest quality care for
all of your patients; you’re making
use of innovative practices and
technologies to support that; and
you aim to provide care tailored to
each patient. This is the direction
I see for the NHS over the next
decade and beyond.
How will the new innovation body
make a difference to our hospital
The Health Innovation Council will
provide leadership and advocacy
for the benefits to patients, the NHS
and the country, of adopting costeffective
new technologies and
models of care. A good example
is SUHT’s innovative telemedicine
scheme, which we featured in one
of our Review video case studies.
You can find them on our website
The final report will be published in June. For more information see
www.ournhs.nhs.uk
Each strategic health authority has also published a vision document
for regional healthcare over the next decade, which will form the basis of
Lord Darzi’s review. Visit www.southcentral.nhs.uk for more information.
WIN
www.ournhs.nhs.uk/2008/03/10/ournhs-our-future-review-videos
Which do you prefer, medicine or
politics
I’ve certainly found politics very
different from my work as a surgeon.
I’ve had a lot more practice at being
a surgeon and I couldn’t do my job
as a Minister without that experience.
But I have also been struck by some
of the similarities. Successful clinicians
and politicians share the ability to
work well with a team and respond
to the needs of the people they work
for; lead and set a clear vision; and be
accountable for what they do.
Thank you to all staff who submitted
questions for Lord Darzi to answer.
a kite surfing lesson for two
For a chance to win a day’s kitesurfing lesson for two people, just email
connect@suht.swest.nhs.uk and tell us what you think of the magazine.
For more information on Learn2Ride kitesurfing school, visit www.
learn2ridekitesurfing.com
The winner will be chosen on Friday 20th June 2008.
NHS in 1948… 480,000 hospital
beds in England and Wales
Wessex body scanner
Wessex body scanner installed at
Southampton General Hospital. The
cross sectional imaging scanner cost
£1.5 million.
timeline
Breast
screening is
introduced
Comprehensive
national breastscreening
programme
introduced.
Patient meals in the 1950s
Patients would have porridge and milk for breakfast, and a typical dinner could include
mutton, stewed steak or mince and onions, with stewed figs and custard for pudding.
Southampton
University
Hospitals NHS
Trust created
1984 1988 1993 1998
NHS Direct launches
A nurse-led advice service provides
people with 24-hour health advice over
the phone. This service is now one of
the largest single e-health services in
the world, handling more than half a
million calls each month.