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Imposed change concerns NHS leaders

18/06/2008

Main threats to the NHS in the coming years include further structural change, rising prices and economic downturn, according to health service leaders.

A survey of NHS heads by the NHS Confederation found that eight out of ten believe the pace of change will increase.

The poll's findings follow a report from the Audit Commission and Healthcare Commission earlier this month which called for a halt to nationally-imposed changes to the structure of the NHS to allow progress to take place in the health service.

NHS Confederation chairman Bryan Stoten said NHS leaders are "understandably cynical about reassurances from the government and political parties around structural change".

"Market reforms combined with innovation are likely to increase the pace of change," he added.

"The danger of continuous change is burn-out so we will need to work hard at supporting staff and ensuring that the change agenda is being driven by them. We want the dynamism to come from within the service."

Despite concerns about the future of the NHS, today's poll also revealed that 96 per cent of leaders are positive about prospects for significant improvements.

Competition and choice is seen as an opportunity by 96 per cent of NHS leaders, followed by technology (93 per cent), IT (91 per cent) and telemedicine (93 per cent).

The survey was released to coincide with the NHS Confederation's annual conference which will debate social care, globalisation, compassion in care, top-ups and disruptive innovation.