Politics and elections National political events can have a bearing on the experiences of patients for years afterwards. Expand 2017 – Policy statement – Recommendations ahead of the general electionWe made five key recommendations to all parties at the 2017 general election, as part of our Vote4theNHS campaign. These related to funding, service transformation, person-centred care, safety and compassion, and Brexit. 2017 – Policy statement – Reaction to the general election resultThe 2017 general election produced a hung Parliament, in which the previous Conservative Government remained in office. Our reaction piece outlined the implications for health and social care.
Ethical and societal issues Challenging and wide-ranging issues that have a bearing on health and care, as well as other aspects of society. Expand 2018 - Consultation response - Opt-out organ donationThe Government has decided to introduce a system of opt-out organ donation (or 'presumed consent') in England. This response gives our recommendations on safeguards and practicalities for the new system.
Engagement and coproduction How patients can be involved in decisions, from their own care through to designing entire systems. Expand 2018 - Consultation response - Extension of 'rights to have' for personal health budgetsThe Government consulted on extending the right to a personal health budget and integrated personal budget to numerous new groups of patients, including people with mental health needs and users of wheelchairs. We were broadly supportive of the proposals.2017 – Consultation response – Services fit for the Future, WalesThe Welsh Government proposed to overhaul systems for patient involvement and redress in the NHS in Wales. This response welcomes some aspects of the proposals, but raises concerns over plans to abolish Community Health Councils without an effective replacement.
Funding and sustainability The financial dimension of health and social care, and what it means to patients. Expand 2018 - Policy statement - Hospital car parking chargesWe believe that car parking should be available free of charge for patients. This should be delivered as part of a full and sustainable funding settlement for the NHS, and alongside investment in alternative ways of getting patients to hospitals and other sites.2018 - Consultation response - Over the counter medicinesNHS England proposed to issue guidance advising GPs not to issue prescriptions for certain treatments that can be bought over the counter. Our response considers the issue in the context of existing practice in ethical prescribing, and cautions about some of the complexity that the measure may introduce.2017 – Consultation response – Low value medicinesNHS England proposed to issue guidance advising GPs not to prescribe certain medicines in most circumstances. Our response notes that this exercise is almost certainly cost driven, makes specific recommendations about particular medicines, and raises concerns about the development of these proposals, and also future proposals for restricting prescriptions for over-the-counter medicines. 2017 – Written submission – Representation to HM Treasury ahead of the Autumn BudgetIn 2017, the Budget shifted to the Autumn. Ahead of it, we made recommendations to the Treasury for spending on health and social care at a time of growing demand. 2017 – Policy statement – Recommendations ahead of the Spring BudgetThe final Spring Budget was presented in 2017, before a shift to the Autumn. We called for an adequate funding settlement for health and social care, and argued that current levels of funding are clearly inadequate. 2017 – Policy statement – Reaction to the Spring BudgetThe Chancellor announced welcome new funding for social care in his final Spring Budget, but did not signal a full shift to the levels of health and social care funding widely argued to be necessary. Our reaction piece gave a full analysis.
Safety What it means when things go wrong in health and social care, and how they can be put right. Expand 2018 - Evidence submission to the Marx / Hamilton review of gross negligence manslaughter and culpable homicideOur evidence to the review of the law around manslaughter as it relates to medical errors. 2018 - Consultation response - Submission to joint committee on Draft Health Service Safety Investigations Body BillOur evidence to the parliamentary committee undertaking pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill to create HSSIB as an independent body.2018 - Policy statement - PHSOA summary statement of the Patients Association's position on the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. 2017 – Consultation response – PHSO draft strategic planThe Patients Association has been critical of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman for the quality of its work for patients. This response summarises our past criticisms, and welcomes PHSO's proposals for transforming itself over the coming years. 2017 – Consultation response - Fixed recoverable costs for ‘lower value’ clinical negligence casesThe Government has proposed to restrict the value of recoverable costs available to patients who have been the victim of clinical negligence, and awarded 'lower value' damages. Our response opposes the proposals, argues that there is no reason why 'lower value' cases must inevitably be simpler and less expensive to litigate, and warns of a risk of patients being excluded from justice.