Last week I welcomed the Minister for Health to Blackburn Hospital. I did so as a big part of my role is making sure that Government really understands the issues faced by residents in Burnley and Padiham. Because for all the good that Blackburn provides, I am fully aware of the challenges and have been doing what I can to secure the changes we need to see improvements in patient care.
Much of it centres around capacity issues, with demand having dramatically increased in recent years. But it’s also about making sure that we direct people to the right place to utilise all of our healthcare settings. From the launch of Pharmacy First, or the further investment we’ve seen at Burnley General Hospital, positive steps are being taken. Not only will increasing the use of Burnley alleviate a lot of the issues being faced at Blackburn Royal, but it will also provide a quicker and more convenient choice for those needing care within our own community.
It’s in this vein that I welcomed this week’s announcement which focused on giving patients more choice when accessing routine treatments within the NHS. From hearing aid care to mental health treatment and diagnostic tests such as endoscopy - where we’ve already seen recent investment at Burnley General Hospital - patients will soon have more choices when accessing NHS care.
Putting patients firmly in the driver's seat of their own healthcare is a positive step. Combined with speedier diagnosis and treatment, it’s exactly the approach I’ve been advocating for when meeting with Government Ministers and NHS leaders.
Of course, no initiative comes without its challenges. Addressing barriers to patient choice, such as access to information and support for transport costs, will be crucial in ensuring that choice is meaningful for all patients. Momentum is building though with the NHS gearing up to launch pilots in local areas from the autumn, engaging with integrated care boards (ICBs) to ensure widespread participation. I too will be feeding in the views I hear on the doorstep week in, week out.
These changes are part of a broader strategy to tackle waiting lists and improve access to healthcare services. With waiting lists already falling by almost 200,000 since September, the NHS is on the right track. And we mustn’t let up.
The benefits of all of this? Shorter waiting times, better outcomes, and greater convenience for us all. Empowering patients to take control of their healthcare decisions is essential for a faster, simpler, and fairer NHS.
