Quality action must be part of the solution

Kate Woodhead RGN DMS acknowledges that action must be taken to tackle the financial pressures in the NHS, but argues that we must not forsake the momentum on delivering quality. It is vital that all those working in healthcare maintain a core focus on improvement, quality and evidence-based decision-making.

The majority of recent healthcare news headlines have been focused on potential cuts in order to tackle the severe financial deficits reported last year. It is difficult to see why there is such a panic – the deficit is entirely predictable with an ageing population, continuing efficiency savings to be made and sinking morale. There has also been a raft of patient organisations complaining that no one has told them what the cuts are going to be. The plans are currently being formulated and will be subject to local consultation, we hear, when they are in a sufficiently robust form to be rejected or built upon. There cannot just be local consultation meetings with no plans to discuss – I believe we must be patient. 

The concern I have is to ensure that not only are we considering efficiency in the health sector, but that we also keep improvement, quality and evidence-based decision-making at the core of what we need to do and not throw it all away while merely making financial decisions.