Consultation responses

Overall, National Voices welcomes the recognition of the need for a more joined up approach for older people with health and social care needs. We would, however, like to question the decision to limit the scope to those with more than one diagnosed long term condition. We believe that this goes against the Government’s intended focus on wellbeing and prevention (e.g. Clauses 1 and 2 of the Care Bill – as recognised under 3.4.1 of the draft scope) and commitment to more person-centred approaches that can support earlier identification and better management of risk factors (e.g.

The purpose of regulation is to ensure high quality care, treatment and support for people who use services. These draft regulations muddle the legal definition of quality in a way that is not helpful.

There must be clear reference to the involvement of, and respect for, people who are carers, family members and/or representatives of the person who uses the service.

Despite the government’s intentions, outcomes relating to the full involvement of people who use services are not adequately reflected in the draft regulations.

Having campaigned consistently for a statutory duty of candour that covers the range of harms that are significant for patients, National Voices strongly welcomes the draft regulations to put this into practice.

Two areas of concern to us remain to be addressed:

Person centred, coordinated primary care starts from the perspective of the person and works with them to identify the care and support that fits their life, allowing them to work towards the health and wellbeing goals most important to them.

There is growing evidence that ‘person centred, coordinated care’ can improve service user experience and ensure the most appropriate use of limited healthcare resources. National Voices believes that primary care should be better supported to deliver more person centred, coordinated care.

Person centred primary care involves:

National Voices believes that the involvement of people with lived experience is vital to ensure that a full understanding of the conditions being discussed, how they affect people’s lives, and the experience of using treatments is understood. There are wide-ranging benefits to the inclusion of the perspectives of people with lived experience of the conditions and services under discussion. They understand how the condition affects them and their families, what it feels like to use the services on offer.

National Voices welcomes the overall direction of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) revised strategy for 2016-2021. We want to see the CQC align its work with the direction of travel towards a more localised, joined up, health and care system that focuses on the needs and wishes of the individuals, rather than the organisations providing support.

There is growing evidence of an urgent need for more money for the health and care system. Trust deficits, growing waiting times and service reductions are some of the key signs that the system is overstretched and that this is having an adverse impact on patients and those who rely on services. It is vital this is addressed in the Autumn Statement if we are to achieve a sustainable, effective and equitable service.