Ellie Ames 12 September 2024

Darzi review: ‘Extraordinary power in getting public health right’

Darzi review: ‘Extraordinary power in getting public health right’ image
Image: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shutterstock.com

The Government must invest in public health to ease pressure on a health service ‘in critical condition’, according to a damning new review of the NHS.

The Independent Investigation of the NHS in England found the nation’s health has deteriorated, waiting times have surged, and ‘no progress whatsoever’ has been made diagnosing stage one and two cancers between 2013 and 2021.

The report by Lord Darzi, a surgeon with 30 years’ experience in the NHS, found the waiting lists for community and mental health services each had a million people on, and concluded that too little of the NHS budget was spent in communities as funding was poured into hospitals.

The report said it was ‘perverse’ that the public health grant to local authorities had been cut by more than a quarter since 2015.

Lord Darzi said there was ‘extraordinary power in getting public health right’ to reduce the burden on the NHS and social care and boost economic productivity.

‘But it takes the political will and willingness to invest to achieve it, with the skills to successfully engage the public’, he said.

The president of the Association of Directors of Public Health, Greg Fell, said: ‘More should be done to adequately resource existing public health networks so that our communities are more able to support people and prevent such high levels of demand for NHS treatment.’

Lord Darzi’s report also called for the creation of a ‘neighbourhood NHS’, with primary, community and mental health services brought together in ‘new multidisciplinary models of care’.

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services said social care must be at the heart of these plans, and the Carer’s Trust criticised the new Government for its ‘silence’ on social care.

Carers Trust's policy and public affairs manager, Ramzi Suleiman, said: ‘The crisis in the NHS has no chance of being fixed until the Government breaks its silence on social care.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Senior Product Support Analyst

Essex County Council
£33512 - £39425 per annum + Hybrid Working
*Experience the best of both worlds with our flexible hybrid working arrangements. Enjoy the freedom to work from home while still benefiting from in England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Security Architect

Essex County Council
£60049 - £70645 per annum + Hybrid Working
This is a 12 month fixed term contract or secondment opportunity.*Experience the best of both worlds with our flexible hybrid working arrangements. E England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Control Officer

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£37602 - £45564 plus shift and weekend allowance
Are you looking for your next opportunity to work as part of a team in a 24-hour emergency control room covering the Boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth. To be responsible for receiving and logging calls from the public, outside agencies and partners. Use Wandsworth, London
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Senior User Centered Designer

Essex County Council
£60049 - £70645 per annum + Hybrid Working
Interviews will be held on 29th and 30th October 2025.*Experience the best of both worlds with our flexible hybrid working arrangements. Enjoy the fr England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Network and Communications Lead

Essex County Council
£52621 - £61906 per annum + Hybrid working
Interviews will be held W/C 20th October 2025.*Experience the best of both worlds with our flexible hybrid working arrangements. Enjoy the freedom to England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner