This week saw the launch of the Lord Darzi Review – a ‘diagnosis’ of the challenges facing the NHS. Lord Darzi’s investigation of NHS performance was published by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) ahead of a speech at a King’s Fund event by Sir Keir Starmer, who noted that the NHS must “reform or die” before setting out his plan for a major overhaul of the service.
The full report can be read here.
PAGB provided a submission to the review, detailing where there is significant waste in the NHS and positioning self-care and reclassification as solutions. We included evidence from the independent report from Frontier Economics commissioned by PAGB, The Economic Value of Over-The-Counter Medicines in the UK, and our 2024 Self-Care Census.
We were really pleased to see the report includes several key takeaways highlighting how self-care can help the government build an NHS fit for the future:
- Currently with NHS 111 calls, fewer than 1 in 10 calls are referred to self-care.
- Pharmacies are struggling with access issues and lack resources where they are needed most.
- The NHS app is not delivering the ‘digital-first’ experience we expect.
Lord Darzi notes that while it will take significant investment and time to repair, there is hope for the future of the service now that the issues have been laid bare.
As the review moves to public consultation and a ten-year plan for health is developed, PAGB are primed and ready to work with the government to support the NHS and represent our members.
Our action plan for the new government outlines six key steps to help realise the benefits of self-care for both the public and the NHS and the quick and cost-effective wins that prioritising self-care will deliver.
