Commenting on today's report on reform in the
NHS in England, Turning Point's Chief Executive Lord Victor
Adebowale says:
"Lord Darzi's timely review of the NHS is to be welcomed,
particularly the focus on quality. However, real improvement
depends on the NHS providing a health service, not a 'sickness'
service, and to do this primary care services need to include, not
marginalise, social care. For instance, people with mental health
problems shouldn't just be given drugs, but they should also get
support with accessing therapy, getting a job and securing stable
housing. This would save taxpayers' money by preventing people
spiralling into crisis.
"The focus of recent debate has been largely on the impact for
hospitals and GPs, ignoring the need for links with social care
services. These are often what make the most practical difference
to people with the most complex needs.
"The challenge now is delivery. Darzi has pledged that existing
services will not be cut until new services are in place. Yet local
health trusts will struggle to fund both existing services and new
services at the same time. To deliver real reform and care closer
to home the Government will need to have the courage to do things
differently, and this may mean cuts to services that aren't working
for local people, in order to reinvest in new ones.
"To take this further, people need to be more involved in
designing and delivering local services so that they actually want
to use them. The Government must hold local health trusts
accountable for understanding the needs of their community, in
order to prevent a postcode lottery in service quality, and to
ensure that the vision of this review extends to those who live in
our poorest communities."
30 June 2008
For more information please contact:
Steve Palmer
Turning Point Press Officer
020 7481 7639
Out of hours 07786 938 601
www.turning-point.co.uk
Notes to editors:
1. Turning Point is the UK's leading social care organisation:
Turning Point provides services for people with complex needs,
including those affected by drug and alcohol misuse, mental health
problems or those with a learning disability. Turning Point
provides services in over 250 locations and has contact with over
100,000 people every year.
2. TP is working in partnership with the NHS and other partners to
develop new services for people with mental health problems
/servicesites/rightsteps
3. Turning Point provides alcohol interventions services in three
hospitals; Gateshead, Sunderland and Watford. Read about the scheme
on the Turning Point blog http://blog.turning-point.co.uk/?p=110
4. Connected Care is Turning Point's blueprint for significant
change in how health, housing and social care services are
provided. The Centre of Excellence in Connected Care website is at
/centreofexcellence/Home.htm
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