The not-so-ill NHS
From Mr Nigel Crisp Sir: Your leading article (17 August) comparing UK healthcare with that in Europe ignored the many excellent NHS services, staff and healthcare facilities we have in this country. It also ignored the undoubted strengths of the NHS, such as primary care and public health. Above all, it ignored the simple fact that our European partners spend much more than we do — in the case of Germany, 39 per cent more.
However, the acid test for the NHS is whether we use new investment to bring about improvement. A modern service must respond to patients' need for information and choice, offer staff more flexibility and control, and use a wide range of service providers, including the not-for-profit and private sectors. These are the changes we are now bringing in with new funding. This process will take time and be difficult. But we will not be deflected from the task of building on our strengths, making improvements step by step, in order to transform the system fundamentally.
Nigel Crisp
NHS Chief Executive London SWI
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