OVERVIEW

The NHS is facing some of the biggest financial and quality challenges since its inception. Health leaders are tasked with implementing the reforms set out in the Health and Social Care Act and the efficiency savings demanded by QIPP, at the same time as managing continuing demands for better services, new technologies and improved quality. All parts of the NHS need to take bold, long-term measures to rise to the challenge and deliver sustainable improvement. In order to meet today's challenges, it is necessary to engage populations, patients, carers and staff.

The challenge of maintaining high standards of performance while implementing the biggest organisational changes in the history of the NHS means that leaders must keep a tight grip on finance and the quality of patient care. But is there a risk that trusts will be so preoccupied with the financial situation that quality will suffer? A recent poll of chairs and chief executives by the NHS Confederation revealed that almost half expect the quality of patient care to decrease in the next year, with treatments rationed and waiting times rising. Some trusts struggling with financial problems are already failing to deliver proper standards of care, according to the Care Quality Commission. The final report of the Francis Inquiry in October will bring quality issues very much to the fore, with the report looking into the issues at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust expected to have major implications for quality and dignity of care in the NHS.

Will the NHS efficiency drive reduce quality of care in some areas? Efficiencies must be made, not by cutting services, but by discovering better models of caring for people. This can be achieved through smart use of new technologies such as telehealth, and redesigning services. Better care and listening to patients could result in the NHS having to spend less money, improving quality at the same time as making savings. This is not just about innovation in products and drugs, but service innovation – a wholesale redesign of services is required in order to ensure a sustainable NHS. Staff performance is a very important factor in service improvement – if you have well supported staff who feel valued, this will be reflected in the service provided to patients.

What does quality care look like in the new NHS? The quality of care can differ greatly from one area to another, and where standards are poor, costs are often higher. By identifying what is working and what is not, it is possible to spread best practice across the board and start to abolish practices that stand in the way of giving patients the quality of care they deserve. From April 2013, the Friends and Family Test will be introduced so that NHS organisations can obtain regular feedback from patients about the care provided, take ownership of the results and act on the feedback.

Public Service Events' NHS Quality of Care conference will examine the relationship between efficiency and quality in the health service, presenting models of high-quality care that can be replicated across the country. Following the final report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Inquiry, it will also consider the role of regulation in ensuring quality of care, and the importance of treating patients with dignity and respect.