Lord Darzi’s Review into NHS performance recently held a meeting with experts to report on their assessment of submissions to the review. BIVDA’s Helen Dent attended to represent the IVD industry.
There were over 300 submissions from the Life Science sector. These contained few surprises – there is wide awareness of the NHS’s performance and challenges. Quality of care is seen as mixed, and the NHS is viewed as having moved in the wrong direction on quality-of-care metrics. Access to services is a key area of concern.
Three key events have continued to impact NHS performance:
- 2010 – Austerity
- 2012 – Health and Social Care Act
- 2020 – COVID-19
Continuing poor performance has normalised suboptimal experiences. Reduced population health has applied more pressure to the NHS, creating a spiral of poorer health increasing demand and reducing performance, causing still poorer health and further demand.
The group reiterated the need for a qualitative narrative to sit alongside data. While the full details are restricted, the report is due by the end of September. BIVDA will provide expert analysis of the report when released, and Lord Darzi will be covering his findings at BIVDA’s Parliamentary Reception on 30th October.
