NHS disputes ‘must not affect patient care’

Disputes between NHS organisations must not be allowed to have an adverse impact on patient care quality.

This is the view expressed by NHS Confederation deputy chief executive David Stout, who said that although the health service is currently under financial strain, monetary disagreements should never result in a negative outcome for patients.

His comments come in response to a Health Service Journal article by Sir Michael Rawlins, chair of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), who has claimed that some NHS trusts are preventing patients from receiving NICE-approved treatments due to arguments over who should pay.

Mr Stout said matters of this kind must be resolved quickly, but also acknowledged that the current economic situation is posing challenges for the NHS.

"We need to be open and honest with the public about what the consequences of this financial challenge are, and the fact that trade-offs will be required if we are to improve standards of care while keeping the NHS affordable."

Last month, the body helped to host a dinner event in which senior parliamentarians met with NHS leaders to discuss necessary reforms to community health services.