2020 health report

It addresses an innovative, patient-centred and potentially highly effective approach to care – exactly the type of approach two dentists took to the provision of dental care, when they founded Denplan in 1986.

PHBs are based around a system whereby an amount of NHS money is given to an individual to help them manage their healthcare and wellbeing needs, instead of having to settle for a package from their GP or council. This report describes how patients make decisions normally made by a GP; what could happen to traditional services and asks whether NHS money should be spent on non-traditional equipment and activities.

At the report launch in London last week, dozens of health professionals gathered to discuss the topic including Norman Lamb MP, Minister for Care and Support. At the launch he raised the importance of a preventive approach to healthcare. He said: “I’m a great advocate of the NHS, but it’s critical to recognise that if it needs to be sustainable looking ahead we have to do things differently. One of those big shifts is from talking about repair to prevention. We don’t spend nearly enough on prevention for patients.”