National Health Service (40th Anniversary) (Hansard, 12 July 1988)

§ Mr. Moore

The Health Service in England has made remarkable progress over the last 40 years. The health of the population has improved and the Health Service can take much of the credit for the elimination, or virtual elimination, of many once common diseases. Above all, it has been successful in providing access to good quality care regardless of the ability to pay.

In the acute sector there has been massive growth both in activity and in the application of new technology to health care. For example, the number of in-patient cases rose from less than 3 million in 1949 to 6.5 million now. This period saw remarkable changes in the medical and surgical treatment of heart disease across the whole age range. Important advances have also been made in the surgical treatment of elderly people.

Another important example of the progress which has been made is the introduction of organ transplants. We have more patients with a successful kidney transplant than any other country in Europe, and the successful kidney transplant programme was followed in this decade by the development of the heart and liver transplant programme.

These advances in medical treatment have been supported by advances in technology. For example, the introduction of powerful diagnostic tools such as computerised tomography scanning and magnetic resonance imaging has enabled diagnoses to be made which would have been impossible a few years ago.

Advances have not, of course, been limited to the acute sector. Our primary care system is one of the best in the world. The average list size of a GP has now fallen to almost 2,000. However, the most significant change has been in the way GPs work. The rise of group practices and the significant increase in the number of staff working in support of family doctors, has meant that a wider range of services are becoming available to more people. Major changes have also occurred in services for mentally ill, mentally handicapped, elderly and physically disabled people. Progress towards community care has enabled many to live useful and fulfilling lives in the community where once institutional care was the only option.

Improvements in all sectors of health care have been matched by improvements in facilities and premises. There are many new hospitals with modern facilities. The current NHS building programme comprises over 500 major schemes; and last year saw the completion of 62 schemes including the official opening of the new Blood Products Laboratory at Elstree.

In recent years there has been an increasing emphasis on the active promotion of good health and this approach will continue. The more illness can he prevented the more resources will be available to treat these conditions which cannot yet be prevented. Advances are also being made in the early detection of disease by screening. In particular, we are currently developing the first nationwide breast cancer screening service in the world, and we have adopted a similar approach to cervical cancer.

None of these advances could have been achieved without the commitment and dedication of health service staff. Their contribution cannot and should not be under-estimated. For the future, the Government remain 168W firmly committed to a National Health Service which provides high quality health care on the basis of need, not on the ability to pay. Since 1979 the Government have amply demonstrated that commitment by increasing spending on the Health Service to record levels. The Health Service has responded with a vigorous drive for greater efficiency which, backed by additional resources, has enabled more patients to be treated than ever before. The Government are confident that the Health Service can continue to build on these successes by providing services in an effective and efficient way and responding positively to the growing level of consumer awareness. The Government's overall objective for the future of the Health Service is to secure the best possible deal for the public both as taxpayer and consumer.