NHS Hospitals in England May Link Funding to Patient Satisfaction

Money for hospitals could be linked to patient ratings, as one of the health bosses implementing the government’s 10-year plan for the NHS in England warns of an existential threat unless it reconnects with the public.

The measure, where services could lose funding if patients were unhappy, is reportedly part of a package to be announced by the prime minister next week.

Clinicians are concerned that the proposal may not be precise enough for the NHS, according to reports.

Patients would be contacted after treatment, and if dissatisfied, about 10% of payment rates could be diverted to an improvement fund, as per The Times.

The plan may start in areas with poor care records, with maternity services being among the first to test it after a national investigation into NHS maternity services in England.

However, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation expressed doubts about the effectiveness of this model, stating that patient experience is influenced by more than just clinician interaction.

The new head of the NHS in England highlighted the challenges in public access to services, warning that the disconnect could jeopardize the future of the NHS.

The government’s 10-year plan aims to address health inequalities, focusing on improving access to information and choice in healthcare.