Summer 2023
Guest editor: Graham Cookson | CEO
Is the NHS too brittle for change?
Recent commentary on the state of the NHS at 75 made for grim reading. Leading UK institutions made a direct plea for long-term cross-party action to help revive a health system in a critical condition. Whilst research comparing the UK to other countries painted a mixed picture of an NHS that is neither leader nor laggard.
At the same time, many leaders within the NHS believe we are reaching a tipping point and that without substantial investment in people, infrastructure, and technology, the chances of the UK’s most beloved institution lasting another 75 years are fading fast.
Whatever resources are ultimately forthcoming, history shows us the NHS always operated under constraints but has been successful in democratically adopting and diffusing new medicines and addressing areas of ill health. It has continually evolved to tackle a range of challenging diseases, delivering major improvements in life expectancy.
In a new two-part Insight series, we delved into the OHE archives to reflect on past NHS successes and consider if the age-old strategy of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment is fit for the modern age. And whether the adaptability of the past can be relied upon in the future.
In part one, published today, we look at three major contributors to shorter life expectancies – tuberculosis, heart disease, and cancer – and in the second instalment, we will look at how treatment advances and prevalence of disease have influenced the healthcare needs of the UK population, and shaped the role of the NHS.
For the NHS to continue evolving, resilience will be crucial. The recent workforce plan was broadly welcomed, although on closer inspection some commentators were less enamoured.
To address the demand side, a growing set of voices are advocating a reinvigorated focus on prevention that could ease the burden on an over-stretched NHS. For example, the recent Covenant for Health. Our own prevention work is at an exploratory stage, but look out for more in the coming months.
The OHE Bulletin will take a break for August but our next edition will be with you in September.
NEW FROM OHE
Dementia is the leading cause of death in England and Wales but investment in research compares poorly to other diseases, such as cancer, and has declined since 2018-19.
Our latest analysis, commissioned by Alzheimer's Research UK, estimates that every £1 invested in dementia research generates £2.59 of economic benefit in the UK.
In this report, we propose three overarching recommendations for reducing the burden of Hidradenitis Suppurativa, a painful skin condition that has a considerable impact on the lives of those with the condition, the NHS, and society.
In this Insights series we have paired members of the OHE team with an external collaborator to shed some light and share some insights on HTA around the world.
In our fourth edition, Dr. Shalu Jain, the Campbell Collaboration, and Gayathri Kumar, OHE, explore the impact of Indian initiative, Health Technology Assessment India (HTAIn).
EVENTS
13 September 2023 | London
Join Professor Elizabeth Robinson, Director of the Grantham Research Institute at LSE, as she delivers our Annual Lecture.
Professor Robinson will demonstrate the importance of a one health perspective when exploring the integral steps needed to transition to a climate-resilient future.
Reframing the economics of health and healthcare in a changing climate, she will outline how a healthier environment, livelihood, and life can contribute.
11-12 October 2023 | London
Join our CEO, Graham Cookson, who is speaking at an Economist Impact event on building a sustainable, inclusive and digital health system.
Europe’s healthcare leaders are under increasing pressure from tightening budgets, the impact of climate change on health, sustainability targets, a backlog of non-covid care and the stress of the refugee crisis.
The Future of Health Europe will convene public, private and civil sectors across health and technology to build towards universally excellent healthcare outcomes.
19 July 2023
We recently delivered a webinar on pharmaceutical sustainability.
This new article captures a range of insights shared by the expert panel. It also explores new questions and areas of discussion prompted by the webinar, including the implementation of environmental impact data into evaluations.
Finally, the article highlights important next steps in striving towards the delivery of green healthcare, including the necessity of a collaborative effort between the pharmaceutical industry, the NHS, and the UK government.