THE HAWKER MODEL FOR NHS REFORM

It’s here!... our white paper on NHS reform, detailing the 5 key principles needed to save our NHS, has now landed…

Hawkers 5 Principles For NHS Reform.pdf

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The NHS is broken. That is not a controversial statement, it is in fact one of the most repeated catchphrases of the 2024 General Election campaign to date. Few refute the statement, however what elicits the most fierce debate is the question of how to fix it.

The reality is that none of the main parties have articulated anything constituting a real, actionable plan consisting of practical and quantifiable measures. Many agree that the system needs reform, whilst some continue to assert that the problem is simply that the NHS is underfunded, and throwing more money at a broken system will get it working again.

We believe that this is incredibly naïve. Those who claim that the NHS does not receive enough funding are blind to the reality of the situation. The fact is that the NHS has never received more money than it does today. NHS funding in 2023 exceeded £168bn, and now represents over 20% of ALL Government spending.

If the NHS is indeed underfunded, as some still claim, then the NHS is no longer economically sustainable… that is the truth of things.

Reform is the only way to save our failing health system. Continuing to funnel taxpayer money indiscriminately into a bottomless pit is not going to achieve the outcomes required to restore faith in the system. At present, our healthcare system is not delivering good outcomes for patients, it is not providing a happy working environment for our hard-working health and care workers, and it is certainly not delivering value for money for the taxpayer.

Radical thinking is needed. Finding the politicians with the stomach to implement change may prove an impossible challenge, but we must start the conversation with ideas and encourage those charged with the governance of this country, whomever that might be after July 4th, to adopt them.

OUR 5 PRINCIPLES FOR NHS REFORM

READ OUR WHITE PAPER DETAILING THE CHANGES NEEDED FOR NHS REFORM (TOP OF PAGE)

Within the context provided, our paper sets out the 5 core principles needed to truly reform the NHS, and make it sustainable, both operationally and economically, for the future. We believe these 5 principles must underpin a new and revolutionary healthcare strategy to be implemented during the next parliament, if ambitions to bring down NHS waiting lists and deliver better outcomes for patients are to be delivered.

1.     Take a scalpel to the list of services available on the NHS

2.     Implement a hybrid model of healthcare

3.     Reduce the taxpayer contribution to NHS staff pensions

4.     Get tough on IR35 for Self-Employed Doctors

5.     Creation of an independent Mental Health Service

So please read our paper and share with like minded individuals, so we can get those in power to implement the changes that are needed.

Editors Note: You will notice that we have not made mention to the concept of eradicating the layers of middle management and EDI (equality, diversity and inclusivity) roles within the structure. We wanted our 5 principles to focus on the most seismic change that could be implemented, and to focus on some of those areas that most commentators have avoided talking about.

Current estimates put NHS annual spending on dedicated EDI roles in the range of £40 million. The elimination of EDI roles, and simplification of management structures across the NHS, are measures that we absolutely support. However, whilst we recognise the need for accountability over every £ of NHS spend, such a change will not contribute as significantly in either financial or operational terms as the measures that we have chosen to include within our top 5.