The NHS needs to tap into the energy of patients, carers and staff to “catalyse change”, the new NHS England chief executive has said.
Making his first speech in his new role, Simon Stevens said the NHS is going to have to find “new ways of tapping into three incredible sources of ‘renewable energy'".
Speaking at the International Centre For Life in Newcastle to an audience of around 300 NHS staff, health professionals and researchers, Stevens explained these sources included:
The NHS needs to tap into the energy of patients, carers and staff to “catalyse change”, the new NHS England chief executive has said.
Making his first speech in his new role, Simon Stevens said the NHS is going to have to find “new ways of tapping into three incredible sources of ‘renewable energy'".
Speaking at the International Centre For Life in Newcastle to an audience of around 300 NHS staff, health professionals and researchers, Stevens explained these sources included:
– “Boosting the critical role that patients play in their own health and care.
– “Supporting the amazing commitment of carers and volunteers and communities to sustain their health and social care services.
– Unleashing the passion and drive of the million plus frontline NHS staff who are devoting their professional lives to caring.”
He said: “I’m more and more convinced that these three energy sources are going to be central to our future. Now I know that for the NHS the stakes have never been higher. I’m personally grateful for the warm welcome I’ve been given since it was announced I’d be taking on this job. But given everything we’re facing, this is also a moment to speak frankly.
"Service pressures are intensifying, and longstanding problems are not going to disappear overnight. As my predecessor David Nicholson has pointed out, this year is going to be a challenge and 2015/16 even more so. No one person can fix everything that needs fixing – certainly not me. Successfully navigating the next few years is going to take a team effort – involving the biggest team in the biggest effort the NHS has ever seen.
"Fortunately, down the years, the NHS has shown a proven ability to rise to the occasion. People have come together, and amazing things have been achieved."
Stevens' speech marked the end of his first day in his new job on a visit to the north-east where he started his NHS career more than 26 years ago.
Simon Stevens was appointed Chief Executive of NHS England in October 2013 following open competition and a worldwide search.
He joined the NHS Graduate Training Scheme in 1988 and has held a number of frontline NHS management roles, running hospitals, health authorities and community services.
From 1997 to 2004 Stevens was the Health Secretary’s Policy Adviser at the UK Department of Health, and the Prime Minister’s Health Adviser at 10 Downing Street.
