"NHS must put patients first"

9.24.49am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 1st Feb 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, is backing her party's calls for a minimum standard of service in the NHS.

The local AM is supporting calls for greater patient involvement in the health service, including patient-NHS agreements on courses of treatment.

Ms Williams said: "Much of the concern felt in my constituency at the moment over the Health Board's hospital reorganisation plans come down to a lack of consultation, and an unwillingness to listen to local people's views. I want an NHS that puts patients' needs at its core. That means delivering healthcare when it's needed, and to a guaranteed level. This is not about burdening health professionals with more targets, but about greater involvement for, and with, patients - ensuring that they are sent copies of letters between GP's, consultants and specialists that relate to their treatment, for example.

"A minimum standard of service would include details of what can be expected at hospital and a patient's right to access information. It would mean raising the nutritional standards for hospital food and ensuring that assistants are there to help elderly patients at meal times. It would mean developing good practice such as patient-NHS agreements on the course of treatment, where and when patients are treated and what other help they need. A review of hospital charges, including schemes to reimburse payment of hospital travel and parking costs, is also long overdue.

"Many of these are simple, basic measures. They are things that should be happening already, but are not always delivered. It is not unreasonable for us all to expect a certain level of treatment from the NHS. There is sometimes a distinct lack of respect for patients within the health service bureaucracy, but I believe these plans would redress that balance."