Radical changes for NHS care to relieve service pressures

The government has released funding to support radical changes to NHS care provision, with the aim of improving conditions for vulnerable older people and lessening the burden placed on accident and emergency services.

A total of 500 million pounds will be made available over the next two years, with half of this to be spent on providing additional capacity in hospitals, community services, urgent care services, primary care, social care and other functions.

Meanwhile, 15 million pounds will be spent on improving the NHS 111 service, while greater efforts will be taken to prevent the spread of flu with vaccinations for staff, a new awareness campaign and immunisation for children.

In the long term, the goal is to ensure that patients have a named clinician responsible for the coordination of their care right across the NHS, with care for older people to become more joined-up and information and patient records to be shared more widely.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "I want a 24/7 service which recognises patients as individuals and looks out for them proactively."

The British Medical Association has welcomed the overall aims of these plans, but called for more resources and reduced bureaucracy to be provided to doctors to help them achieve these goals.