Welsh NHS: New vision unveiled

The Welsh health minister has announced a 10-year strategy to deliver a "world class" health and social care service in Wales.

The 'Designed for Life' scheme will promote the health and well-being of Welsh people through increased communication with frontline staff, service users and the public.

Health minister Brian Gibbons launched the scheme and promised to provide an "evidence-based strategy linked to
innovation," and a "commitment to best practice" in the healthcare sector.

Speaking at the launch on Thursday, Gibbons said: "The strategy outlines the requirement for a world class patient experience through promoting health and improving access to high quality services."

He said local government has a vital contribution to make in addressing inequalities and promoting health, and the scheme will work with local partners to deliver its social care and social services framework.

The scheme aims to see reduced delayed transfers of care and improved Trust efficiency. Older people in Wales will also see services improve with designated stroke unit beds and multidisciplinary stroke teams in each locality by March 2007.

Waiting time targets have been set for the coming years which should ensure that by 2009, from GP referral to treatment, no-one will wait more than a maximum of 6 months for an operation.

And to ensure that only good performance is rewarded, financial arrangements in Wales will be reviewed.

The planning and commissioning of services is also going to be further strengthened to make sure that services are better co-ordinated to meet the needs of the local population.

The strategy wants to see care provided closer to where people live - for example through the development of specialist clinics in local hospitals, bringing expert care closer to the patient's home.

And the services patients can receive in their own homes will also be strengthened so people can be discharged  from hospital quicker and there is less need for people to be placed in residential nursing homes.

"This long term strategy shows our commitment to the health service and it is fitting that today's launch takes place in the birthplace of the NHS," Gibbons said. "What was begun here we will protect, strengthen and improve."

And he added: "We are already on the way to creating a health service rather than an illness service.

"Waiting times are at a record low and investment in buildings and equipment is at a record high.

"I hope we can all work together towards 2015 to transform health and social care and create a world class health service in Wales."

But Plaid Cymru's health spokesman, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, has slammed the Designed for Life report as a "wish list of laudable aims".

Thomas said: "This government has an abysmal record on meeting its own targets. We have seen numerous targets for waiting lists and times, all have failed."

And he pointed out that the new strategy comes on the back of a series of independent "damning" reports on New Labour's record on the health service.

"The report lists the intention and aims of the Labour assembly government but does not go into detail how they will be delivered," he said.