The College of Medicine has responded to Lord Darzi’s report on the state of the National Health Service in England.
The report was published by the Department of Health and Social Care on September 12th 2024 and saw former health minister Lord Darzi examining the health of the nation and social care system, and how they impact the NHS.
Professor Sir Sam Everington, The College of Medicine’s Vice Chair, praised the report. He said it was ‘an excellent report detailing exactly what has gone wrong in the NHS and the need to shift to holistic care, prevention and the use of modern technologies.’
Professor Sir Sam added: ‘Billions of pounds have been put into the body repair shop with no reduction in crashes.’
Professor Sir Sam Everington, Vice Chair of The College of Medicine, and Dr Michael Dixon, Chair of The College of Medicine pictured earlier this year
Dr James Fleming, a GP in Padiham, Burnley and College of Medicine Council Member, said the report was ‘very welcome’.
He said: ‘As a jobbing clinician and as a patient with a family, the critical honesty of the document alongside comparisons with other, similar economies is fascinating and very welcome.
‘This is a starting point, and if we all work together I think we can make some very overdue changes to improve the health of our nation.’
The report, which took nine weeks to compile, suggested that the NHS is in ‘serious trouble’ and highlighted issues such as slow access to treatment, poor cancer rates and not enough investment in community nurses.
Lord Darzi, an academic surgeon who holds the Paul Hamlyn Chair of Surgery at Imperial College London, reported on the ‘surge’ in chronic illnesses – which saw 2.8 million unable to work at the beginning of 2024, and also said the mental health of young people was suffering at higher rates and more frequently than in the past.
Waiting times, whether for A&E, cancer treatment, mental health issues or surgery were all missing targets, he said. Less access to a GP, low income, sub-standard living conditions and unstable employment were all contributing to the NHS’s problems.
Lord Darzi said: ‘GPs are seeing more patients than ever before but, with the number of fully qualified GPs relative to the population falling, waiting times are rising and patient satisfaction is at its lowest ever level.’
READ LORD DARZI’S REPORT IN FULL HERE
