NHS 50
Your NHS
A YEAR IN THE LIFE
The Debate for Our Future
The Debate for Our Future


About the Conference
Summary
Programme
Satellite Sessions
Focus Groups
Fringe Sessions
RCN Sessions
Futures Arena

The Debate for Our Future
Summary
NHS Voices
Madingley Scenarios
Citizens Voices
An International Voice
Our Shared Agenda
Join the Debate

Publications
Summary
NHS Voices
Madingley Scenarios
Citizens Voices
An International Voice

 

'Citizens` Voices'

Introducing 'Citizens' Voices' and how to have your say.

"If these groups could be a starting point for this type of dialogue we could have a very powerful force indeed"
- participant in `People's Perspective Deliberative Group' for Future Issues debate.

These are the views of nine groups made up of people approaching health from the full range of perspectives - patients, carers, professionals and so on. Their vision of the future of the NHS and the environment it will be operating in over the next fifty years will be an important springboard for further debate at the conference.

Their vision identifies four fundamentals:

  • The NHS will remain true to its core values and a free service
  • Sharing of information and decisions around care will be more balanced between professionals, carers and users, with `self health' and alternative therapies playing a greater role than now.
  • A holistic approach to health will influence policy and organisational development.
  • There will be public participation at all levels of health policy, including research.

Important questions for the conference include:

  • How can we develop systems that are not dominated by particular interests and fragmented by working structures?
  • Can we learn to build consensus on priorities, plans and performance standards that come from reliable information and a people's perspective?
  • How can all citizens share in the ethical debates that arise as our knowledge of what is possible grows?

Some major concerns about citizens at all levels working well together on health are:

  • The NHS is discriminatory, and fundamental social and economic inequalities are not being more widely addressed.
  • We want a fast, reliable emergency system and a responsive longterm helath system. Is this achievable?
  • People in Scotland and Wales see enormous potential in their new democracies. Will regionalisation in England help?

'Join the Debate'

Please take the time to fill in a questionnaire on this strand of the Debate for Our Future.

You can also register your overall personal view of what you think the NHS needs to do to ensure it thrives.

Read the full text before joining the debate.

Are you:
Age Group:
Do you work for the NHS?
Please type in your occupation:

1. What is your reaction to the citizens' vision of a healthier future for the NHS?

Do you:

Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

Are there any points of view you would like to raise?

2. Are there any specific issues you could like to raise concerning the journey towards the better future?

3. In relation to getting started on the journey to a better future, is there anything specific you would like to share with local citizens in your local communities?

Please contact us if you have any queries or would like further information: future.issues.nhs@dial.pipex.com



 
back top next

 
Copyright © 1998, NHS