News
Creating healthy population is vital for future of healthcare, says
Swindells
9 July 2008
More needs to be done to improve the health of our ageing population
in order to achieve Darzi's vision, said Professor Matthew Swindells at
a London conference on Wednesday.
Professor Matthew Swindells, MD for Health at Tribal and until June
Interim Chief Information Officer for the Department of Health, and Prof
David Colin-Thomé, NHS National Clinical Director for Primary Care, gave
their views on the future of primary care and wellness at the Health
Service Journal conference, Implementing Our NHS, Our Future.
In a session that explored the vision for primary care developed as
part of Lord Darzi's Next Stage Review, Prof Swindells spoke about the
impact of underlying demographic changes in the UK population, and how
to reduce the rising burden of illness on global healthcare costs. He
suggested that building partnerships beyond traditional healthcare
environments and investing energies and resources in creating a
healthier population is vital to delaying and avoiding the onset of
illnesses, reducing the amount of care required.
Prof Swindells stated that integrated health management that assesses
the needs of whole populations but delivers care and support tailored to
the needs of individuals could transform health. He referred to American
research — due to be published later this year — that has concluded that
a significant shift in well-being is achievable through this approach.
The research followed a two-year programme designed to change
people's attitudes towards their health. Significant numbers of people
moved from the high risk category, with five or more 'high risk'
indicators, to the low risk category — with between zero and two 'high
risk' indicators. Large numbers of workers moved from being obese and
gave up smoking.
Prof Swindells showed data to demonstrate that this wasn't only good
for the individual, but it was good for the employer and the society at
large:
- workers suffering from anxiety, depression, pain or migraine are
twice as likely to be injured at work as the average employee;
- workers with four or more health risk factors lose twice as many
work days a year as workers with only one health risk factor; and
- workers with five or more health risk factors are 12% less
productive than workers with only zero to two health risk factors.
Both speakers concluded that commissioning must move on from simply
purchasing services for sick people to developing the services needed to
keep people well. Prof Swindells added that Tribal's international
experience had given insight in how to develop the skill set required
for world class commissioning.
Prof Swindells said, "The Next Stage Review maps out a future for the
NHS which is based on quality care and improving the health of the
population.
"As the population ages and life expectancy increases, the NHS must
help people to be fitter so that they can stay well into their old age
and avoid spending their longer life too unwell to enjoy it.
"This isn't only the right thing to do, it is essential if the NHS is
going survive for another 60 years as an integral part of our society."
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