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| Tories promise NHS targets revamp | Tories promise NHS targets revamp |
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| The Tories are to outline plans aimed at making the NHS more accountable to patients, with the intention of saving up to 100,000 lives a year in England. | The Tories are to outline plans aimed at making the NHS more accountable to patients, with the intention of saving up to 100,000 lives a year in England. |
| Traditionally ministers have relied on process targets, such as waiting times, to drive health service improvement. | Traditionally ministers have relied on process targets, such as waiting times, to drive health service improvement. |
| Leader David Cameron is to unveil a policy paper which says survival rates in areas such as cancer and heart disease are "what really matters". | Leader David Cameron is to unveil a policy paper which says survival rates in areas such as cancer and heart disease are "what really matters". |
| Health minister Ann Keen said the plans threatened NHS services people want. | Health minister Ann Keen said the plans threatened NHS services people want. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| The Conservatives' paper will outline a range of areas of focus, including the biggest killers cancer and heart disease. | The Conservatives' paper will outline a range of areas of focus, including the biggest killers cancer and heart disease. |
| Mr Cameron is expected to say that a Tory government would look to improve five-year cancer survival in excess of the EU average by 2015. | Mr Cameron is expected to say that a Tory government would look to improve five-year cancer survival in excess of the EU average by 2015. |
| Death rates for stroke, heart disease and lung disease will also be targeted. | Death rates for stroke, heart disease and lung disease will also be targeted. |
| The Tory leader will also attack Labour's use of targets, saying they have worsened productivity, wasted money and distorted clinical priorities. | The Tory leader will also attack Labour's use of targets, saying they have worsened productivity, wasted money and distorted clinical priorities. |
| Many of the targets have focused on waiting times for things such as A&E and elective surgery. | Many of the targets have focused on waiting times for things such as A&E and elective surgery. |
| Mr Cameron will say the system of "top-down NHS targets is failing the NHS and failing patients" and by focusing on outcomes and providing that information to patients the NHS will become much more effective. | Mr Cameron will say the system of "top-down NHS targets is failing the NHS and failing patients" and by focusing on outcomes and providing that information to patients the NHS will become much more effective. |
| Achieving average European standards in the disease areas they aim to focus on could save 38,000 lives, while performing at highest levels could save 100,000 lives, the Tories believe. | Achieving average European standards in the disease areas they aim to focus on could save 38,000 lives, while performing at highest levels could save 100,000 lives, the Tories believe. |
| Andrew Lansley, the Shadow Health Secretary, said: "We all know that the NHS has been focused on processed targets, dictated by politicians, where there isn't any evidence base and where the result of it has been, throughout the NHS, high levels of bureaucracy, distortion to clinical priorities and poorer services for patients than would otherwise be the case. | |
| "So what we're going to focus on is the outcomes for patients." | |
| Moving away | Moving away |
| However, the Tory policy comes as the government has already started moving away from waiting targets. | However, the Tory policy comes as the government has already started moving away from waiting targets. |
| I think everyone now agrees it is the right time to move away from the traditional targets Professor John Appleby, of the King's Fund | I think everyone now agrees it is the right time to move away from the traditional targets Professor John Appleby, of the King's Fund |
| The 18-week hospital treatment target for the end of the year is the last of its kind. | The 18-week hospital treatment target for the end of the year is the last of its kind. |
| And from next year the government is looking to measure patient outcomes, starting with analysing how well people recover from a host of elective operations such as hip replacements. | And from next year the government is looking to measure patient outcomes, starting with analysing how well people recover from a host of elective operations such as hip replacements. |
| Professor John Appleby, chief economist of the King's Fund health think tank, said: "I think everyone now agrees it is the right time to move away from the traditional targets. | Professor John Appleby, chief economist of the King's Fund health think tank, said: "I think everyone now agrees it is the right time to move away from the traditional targets. |
| "Outcomes are being looked at, but the problem is that you cannot say what the NHS is responsible for, as other factors such as lifestyle and genetics play an important role." | "Outcomes are being looked at, but the problem is that you cannot say what the NHS is responsible for, as other factors such as lifestyle and genetics play an important role." |
| Ms Keen said the Tory plans were "inconsistent. | Ms Keen said the Tory plans were "inconsistent. |
| "David Cameron will tell anyone in the NHS what he thinks they want to hear - whether it is patients, GPs or NHS staff," she said. | "David Cameron will tell anyone in the NHS what he thinks they want to hear - whether it is patients, GPs or NHS staff," she said. |
| "Having opposed extra investment in the NHS, the Tories are now opposing reform that is helping to improve patient care. | "Having opposed extra investment in the NHS, the Tories are now opposing reform that is helping to improve patient care. |
| "The Tories are proposing an end to longer GP opening hours; scrapping guarantees that have shortened waiting times; and cuts on a scale that would put NHS investment at risk." | "The Tories are proposing an end to longer GP opening hours; scrapping guarantees that have shortened waiting times; and cuts on a scale that would put NHS investment at risk." |