The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has long argued that we need to rethink the way we deliver healthcare: breaking down barriers between hospitals and the community, and working in partnership with patients to deliver joined-up care.
We need an NHS that puts patients first. We need a system that enables doctors, nurses and others on the front line of the NHS to deliver the safest, most effective care, in whatever setting is most appropriate for each patient’s needs.
Hospitals are more than bricks and mortar: they are a part of the local community, delivering expert care far beyond hospital walls. Everyone should be supported to be well, and have access to high-quality care when they are ill.