The Darzi review: How will “The NHS Next Stage Review” affect your practice? The review led by the surgeon colleague, Lord Professor Ara Darzi, is now published. The areas of note are:
- Patient input. The FDA almost alone has championed relational continuity over the past years. Partly because of the FDA that relational continuity has been given the prominence it deserves. I am pleased with the modest and practical systems for increasing patient input, for when patients have the real ability to choose they choose our style of practice.
- Healthier lifestyles. I am pleased with the emphasis on promoting healthier lifestyles at a time when we know there increasing unhealthy habits which foretell of a future worsening of public health. The FDA has previously spoken of "The Eight Scourges" those issues of public health which are theoretically preventable. Seven of our eight gain specific mention.
- Revalidation and re-accreditation. I recognise that the time for revalidation and re-accreditation has arrived; I simply hope that it is light touch and not burdensome. I think I am likely to be disappointed.
- Federations. I recognise the DH's desire for practices of all sizes to work in federation with other practices and with other agencies as integral parts of ICOs that is Integrated Care Organisations. I have already begun to discuss such organisations with nearby colleagues.
- My greatest disappointment. I reserve my greatest disappointment for the proposed Quality Care Commission intrusion into practices. (Paragraph 6.20) There is little or no track record in "light-touch, risk based and proportionate". I am certain that such intrusion will be entirely disproportionate for smaller practices. This will have to be one stream of work for the FDA.
- How will this impact on YOUR practice? I have analyzed paragraph by paragraph the reports implications as I see them for my practice, for a local federation of practices and for the FDA in terms of the work it must address. The action points will be on the FDA website next week to share with you my thoughts in more detail. So to conclude. The NHS Next Stage Review is a worthy document. It is one which I am sure you should give some early scrutiny for it is the outline of our shared future
See the Chairman's video presentation here.
(Acknowledgement is given to Pri Med Online for their support in producing this video through an unrestricted grant)