Health Secretary Andy Burnham today set out his strategy for the NHS to put patients first and improve the quality of care as it enters an unprecedented era of reform.

The strategy, ‘NHS 2010-2015: from good to great. Preventative, people-centred, productive,’ published today by the Department of Health, explains the need to  accelerate the pace of NHS reform to make the system more productive and hasten improvements in quality of care –  protecting patients, supporting staff, shifting resources to the frontline and slashing back office waste and bureaucracy.
 

Andy Burnham said:

'The NHS today is better funded, more resilient, has more capacity and provides better care than ever before. It is ready to take on the new challenge of getting more out of what we have and moving from good to great.

'For the NHS to become truly great, it must become more preventative and people-centred. Lord Darzi’s vision to put quality at the heart of the NHS is fast becoming a reality across the country. This means top quality care is our goal and patient safety our top priority. This is right for our times. Quality care is not always about spending more money, but about spending it in the right places. Moving care from hospitals into homes and communities is better for patients and more efficient.

'With an ageing population and the increased prevalence of lifestyle diseases, preventing illness and keeping people healthy is our best long term insurance policy for the nation’s health and managing the financial challenges ahead. The NHS should intervene earlier to help people lead healthier lives and prevent more disease.

'The improvements in the last decade have been made by NHS staff. It is vital to protect frontline staff in order to deliver services to patients. The challenge to the NHS, and to NHS leaders and staff around the country, is to reshape services further and faster than ever before. We are proud of the achievements of NHS staff and we will do everything we can to support them through the next period of change.

'In the past, a tougher financial environment has meant that patients have paid the price through longer waits. But that will not happen this time. We will not back away from the NHS. The Pre-Budget Report confirms that we can lock-in the achievements of the last decade, while protecting patients and providing top quality care.

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