A major rethink of how we measure NHS performance could be the key to tackling record waiting lists, according to a new report that calls for a fundamental shift towards delivering more care in patients' own homes. The Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) argues that current NHS targets are inadvertently pushing care towards hospitals when many patients could be better served closer to home.
The think tank's report, titled 'Closer to Home', suggests that by changing how we set and measure NHS targets, we could encourage a significant expansion of community-based services and make better use of new technologies. This includes virtual wards, where patients receive hospital-level monitoring and treatment at home under the supervision of healthcare professionals remotely. The aim is to free up precious hospital beds for those who need them most - patients requiring emergency or complex care.
Key recommendations include expanding remote consultations and monitoring technology, which could particularly benefit people managing long-term conditions like diabetes or heart disease. The CPS believes that by strengthening local GP practices and community health teams, much of the non-urgent care currently delivered in hospitals could be safely and more conveniently provided in patients' own communities. This approach could not only help reduce waiting lists but also improve the patient experience.
The report highlights how current NHS performance measures - such as A&E waiting times and surgical backlogs - can overlook opportunities for preventative care delivered outside traditional hospital settings. According to the CPS, moving towards more integrated, locally accessible care could make the NHS more resilient and better equipped to meet changing healthcare needs across the country.
However, the Labour Party has criticised the government's NHS management in response to the report. The Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care acknowledged that whilst innovative solutions are welcome, they must form part of a comprehensive strategy to rebuild the health service after what they describe as years of underfunding. The opposition called for a clear government plan to address the fundamental challenges facing the NHS, including record waiting lists and ongoing staff shortages.
The Department of Health and Social Care maintains its commitment to reducing NHS waiting lists and improving patient access to care, recognising the significant pressures the service currently faces. Whilst the government has previously announced plans to expand virtual wards and integrate new technologies, the CPS report suggests a more comprehensive overhaul of how we measure NHS performance may be needed to truly embed home-based care as a central principle of health service delivery.