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Chief Executive's report to the NHS: December 2005

  • Document type:
    Report
  • Author:
    Department of Health
  • Published date:
    7 December 2005
  • Primary audience:
    Professionals
  • Product number:
    272002
  • Gateway reference:
    5891
  • Pages:
    26
  • Copyright holder:
    Crown

This report describes the activity in the NHS over the past year and since publication of the NHS Plan.

This report illustrates that:

  • hospital waiting lists are lower than ever, over half a million down from their peak, and we can be confident that waiting times will reduce to a maximum six months by the end of the year;
  • early deaths from cancer, coronary heart disease and suicide continue to fall as services improve
  • patients have more choice and involvement in their own care and will have more choice about which hospital they are referred to in the new year.

As importantly, it shows how people are using new ideas to innovate and improve service quality and safety. It also shows how changes to the way the NHS works - more choice for patients with ' money following patients' - are helping to drive improvements.

The NHS is now at a turning point. Over the last five years the NHS has been growing fast - with more staff and facilities - building capacity. It is important now to concentrate even more than before on using that capacity well to deliver quality for patients and value for money for the public.

Please note that an erratum has been issued for the:

  • Chief Executive's report to the NHS. The erratum is to page 18.
  • Statistical Supplement to the Chief Executive's report to the NHS. The erratum is to section 3.6, page 29.

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