David Cameron offered to give doctors back their professional responsibility in exchange for more patient accountability at the Conservative Party Conference today.
In his leader’s address, he suggested the Conservative Party would lower the role of central government and empower NHS staff. He blamed “big” government for ongoing problems in the NHS.
He said: “With their endless targets and reorganisations, Labour have tried to run the NHS like a machine. But it’s not a machine full of cogs. It is a living, breathing institution made up of people - doctors, nurses, patients.
“This lever-pulling from above - it has got to stop. With Andrew Lansley’s reform plans, we’re going to give the NHS back to people.”
Cameron offered doctors a deal over greater patient choice. He said: “We’ll say to the doctors: those targets you hate, they’re gone. But in return, we’ll do more for patients. Choice about where you get treated. Information about how good different doctors are, how good different hospitals are.”
He also said he would improve patient information on the “things that really matter”, such as cancer survival times, the rate of hospital infections, your chances of surviving if you have a stroke.
He did pay tribute to the NHS and its staff. “My family owes so much to the National Health Service,” he said, referring to the treatment of his disabled son, who died earlier this year. “No, it is not perfect. But I tell you, when you’re carrying a child in your arms to Accident and Emergency in the middle of the night and don’t have to reach for your wallet it’s a lot better than the alternative.
“So we will never change the idea at the heart of our NHS that healthcare in this country is free at the point of use and available to everyone based on need, not ability to pay.”
Tags: Patient choice, Targets