6 The NHS at 60 - what next?
Matter for discussion
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether the NHS has reached a birthday milestone or the age of retirement
Work led by the RCN Public Policy Committee.
This matter for discussion invited delegates to debate on the future of the NHS as it celebrates its 60th birthday and asked if the NHS was fit for purpose or if advances in health care will make it obsolete by 2068.
Some agreed that people are healthier and living longer than ever before and that we should recognise that this is a reflection of the standard of care provided by the NHS. The NHS was described as a "jewel in the crown of Britain's public services" but not one without problems.
Delegates spoke of the need to embrace technological advances and to respond effectively to an ever growing demand for services. It was argued that while it is important that sufficient funding is in place, it is also vital that resources are managed effectively. It was also said that the NHS should be run like a business but not as a business and that there should be a return to the caring ethic that the NHS was founded upon. Nurses were called upon to lead the debate on the future of the NHS to ensure it is fit for the future.
No further action to be taken.