NHS to launch Next Stage Review

The final draft of the NHS Next Stage Review report is to be released today, according to the Department of Health.

Lord Darzi, health minister, has led the project and will make the findings public after nine months of consultation with thousands of patients, stakeholder groups and NHS staff.

They were asked what they wanted from the NHS and their responses will form the basis of a new foundation for the health service.

More than 2,000 staff, including doctors, nurses, social care workers and carers from nine strategic health authorities (SHA) were involved in the report which looks at healthcare in eight areas.

The SHAs have already published documents based on the results, identifying their healthcare requirements and areas of excellence, in their region for the next 10 years.

Lord Darzi is also an honorary consultant at St Mary’s Hospital and the Royal Marsden and was knighted by the Queen in December 2002 for his service to medicine and surgery.