Lord Darzi’s NHS next stage review

The NHS Next Stage Review, written by Lord Darzi was published in June 2008, stressing the importance of offering a quality service. The high quality of care is defined in the review as “care where patients are in control, have effective access to treatment, are safer and where illnesses are not just treated, but prevented.”

Emphasis has been put on the promotion of good health, as well as treating sickness. Such a move would mean to empower patients to take a greater interest in their general health, with such issues as smoking, drinking and over-eating being obvious examples where improvements can be made. This would be supported by a Coalition for Better Health, focussing on improving health outcomes, focusing initially on combating obesity.

‘Choice’ is also a major issue for Lord Darzi in the Review. It is stated that the NHS Constitution will be drawn up to include a section on ‘right to choice’, giving patients a much wider control over which services they receive. Information concerning service providers will be made more open and accessible, empowering patients to make informed decisions on their treatments. Furthermore, pilots for the Personal Health Budgets are scheduled for 2009.

The personal health budget pilots, along with the personal care plans have been designed to assist those with long-term conditions properly manage it and eventually, if possible return to full health. These policies are being designed to greater empower people with long-term conditions in order to facilitate greater control over the treatment and management of their conditions and access to higher quality care.

The move to create an NHS that focuses not just on the treatment of illness but also equally on the promotion of good health and well-being should create a system that places increased importance on not just the management of long-term illness, but on the active promotion of a return to health.