Andrew Lansley places policy emphasis on patients

Andrew Lansley CBE was appointed yesterday as Secretary of State for Health. Following his discussions with NHS staff, Mr Lansley said: “I know they want to focus on patients and to be accountable for the results they achieve. Andrew Lansley CBE was appointed yesterday as Secretary of State for Health.


Following his discussions with NHS staff, Mr Lansley said: “I know they want to focus on patients and to be accountable for the results they achieve. I am determined that we will have an NHS in which the patient shares in making decisions; where quality standards are evidence-based and form the basis of the design of services and their management; and where the objective is consistent improvement in the outcomes we achieve, so that they are amongst the best in the world.”

From hearing recent statements, it is clear that NHS staff are going to have greater ‘responsibility’ to deliver care. “The NHS will be backed with increased real resources but with this comes a real responsibility. We will need progressively to be more efficient, to cut the costs of what we do now, to innovate and re-design, in order to enable us to meet increased demands and to improve quality and outcomes.”

However, this starts with patients, and therefore there will be implications for improved ‘Health Literacy’ amongst the public. Mr Lansley says: “This will not happen in a top-down, bureaucratic system. Decisions must be taken with patients, close to patients and with clinical leadership at the fore.”

A large abdominal organ that has many important roles including the production of bile and clotting factors, detoxification, and the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Full medical glossary
Continuously increasing in extent or severity. Full medical glossary
A tube placed inside a tubular structure in the body, to keep it patent, that is, open. Full medical glossary
A waste product formed from the breakdown of proteins. Full medical glossary