The wisdom of the crowd: 65 views of the NHS at 65

As the NHS reaches 65, we asked 65 health and political leaders to reflect on its current state and predict its future.

Book

Published: 04/07/2013

ISBN: 978-1-905030-67-5

Download the PDF [PDF 1.5MB]

In this video, we asked health and political leaders how to ensure that the NHS remains viable for the next ten years.

Edited by Nicholas Timmins, former Public Policy Editor of the Financial Times and Senior Associate at the Nuffield Trust, The wisdom of the crowd features former health secretaries, clinicians, managers, key figures from the private and health charity sector, academics and journalists.

They were each asked what they believe the state of the NHS to be at this moment in time, what they think the NHS will look like in ten years' time and what health and political leaders need to do to ensure it remains viable and fit for purpose, and whether they think the NHS can remain largely free at the point of use.

If anything, the NHS has become even more 'the closest thing the English have to a religion', in Nigel Lawson's famous phrase, as outside observers looked on with awe, bewilderment and amazement at the central part it played in the Olympics opening ceremony.
Nicholas Timmins, Senior Associate, Nuffield Trust and report editor

The publication is a companion piece to our previous report: Rejuvenate or retire? Views of the NHS at 60, which was launched prior to the economic downturn and the recent NHS reforms.

The NHS' 65th anniversary presents us with a good opportunity to reflect on the significant changes that have happened in the last five years, both in health and the wider environment, and how these have impacted on the NHS today and the NHS of the future.

I started life without the NHS and I expect to meet my end without it.
Roy Lilley, report contributor

The wisdom of the crowd features politicians including Alan Milburn, Andy Burnham, Norman Lamb MP and Ken Clarke; officials including David Behan, Paul Bate and Sir David Nicholson; health and social care leaders including Dr Clare Gerada, Sir Andrew Dillon and Mike Farrar; and independent commentators including Polly Toynbee, Robert Francis QC and Ben Page.

This publication is supported by PwC and our media partner the Health Service Journal.


How to access this book

There are various ways of accessing this book. You can:

If you have a visual impairment and would like an accessible copy of the publication (MS Word format), please contact the Nuffield Trust Publications Team.

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