State of NHS a “mixed picture”

The current state of the NHS represents a “mixed picture”, according to the Healthcare Commission.

The comments come following the publication of new figures showing that over half of NHS trusts need to improve their performance in either health or management issues.

Speaking on Channel 4’s News at Noon, Gary Needle, head of the Healthcare Commission’s annual NHS health check, said the results of the commission’s findings were mixed, following the completion of the “most comprehensive and indeed toughest” assessment of NHS performance.

“There’s some good news particularly around reductions in waiting times, but there are a number of key areas where NHS trusts certainly need to improve performance,” he remarked.

Rosie Winterton, the health minister, welcomed the findings of the health check. She told BBC Two’s Daily Politics programme: “[Let’s] be clear, something like only nine per cent of the trusts were rates as ‘weak’ in terms of quality of services.”

Andy Burnham, another health minister, praised the honest assessment of NHS services on BBC One’s Breakfast show.