SCTS President's statement on the Darzi Report
17 September 2024
(Last updated: 17 Sep 2024 17:08)
by Narain Moorjani, SCTS President
Last week, Lord Ara Darzi published his review of the health service, which he described is in a critical condition and one that had been unforgivably damaged. The report describes the severe challenges facing the NHS, with long waiting lists, a deterioration in the nation's health and problems for patients accessing services. The review also paints a bleak picture for those working within the NHS, where despite working harder than ever before, there are struggles of rising demand, on the backdrop of years of underinvestment in infrastructure and the impact of the pandemic.
There was also a focus on care for specific conditions, including heart disease, with the recognition that every aspect of cardiovascular care has been damaged, as well as being a major driver of widening health inequalities. There was also specific mention of appreciably higher cancer mortality rates than other countries, albeit with notable improvements in the early detection of lung cancer due to the targeted lung screening programme.
The findings of this review will inform the Government’s new 10-year plan to reform and rebuild the health service, with consultation expected to start later this year. The SCTS looks forward to working with the NHS on this extremely important task.
Narain Moorjani, SCTS President
DARZI REPORT
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