Darzi fails to delight
01 July 2008
So now we have the final report from Lord Darzi setting out the Government’s vision for a new patient focused NHS driven by outcomes rather than volume.
Whether or not Darzi’s proposals will deliver an improved health service or join the list of well intentioned reforms that did not live up to expectations I will leave to your personal views.
What did disappoint me, however, was the paucity of references to the potential contribution which pharmacy could make. There are promising statements in the report, but too few and too general.
The NHS in England has considerable assets at its disposal – not least GPs, nurses and community pharmacies – and these pieces of the primary healthcare jigsaw need to fit together better than they do today. Yet aside from a few inspirational comments, the Darzi report sidesteps this important issue.
We ought to see less emphasis on eye catching new initiatives for the future and more on maximising the potential of what is currently actually out there. If we get better inter-professional working and structured care paths then we could deliver improved patient care.
Admittedly, the Pharmacy White Paper recognised the need for stronger working links between healthcare professionals and consultation is planned to identify what this could mean in practice.
Nonetheless, the Darzi report was an opportunity to address this issue which I think is as important as announcing yet more bold new initiatives for a reform weary NHS.
MARK JAMES
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