Responding to NHS England’s Next steps on the NHS Five Year Forward View , RCP president Professor Jane Dacre said:
Since its launch, NHS England’s Five Year Forward View has provided a positive direction for the NHS in what has been a challenging environment. It has provided a model for institutions and NHS staff to continue to do great work – providing timely and high quality care to patients despite growing financial and workforce pressures.
The focus on public health, to improve cancer care and ease the pressure on our A&Es is of course welcome, however in the past few years such demands have meant that the opportunity and ability to transform services to improve the care we provide for patients has become much harder to achieve.
Our hospitals and NHS staff are only just coping and we cannot underestimate either the time or effort needed to make these fundamental changes. Though satisfaction with the NHS remains steady, we cannot be complacent. Now is the time for more investment and for the sustainability and transformation plan (STP) leaders to involve patients, healthcare staff and the wider public in designing services that meet the needs of patients today and in the future.
Follow Professor Jane Dacre on Twitter at @DacreJane.
