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Designed For Life

Creating world class health and social care for Wales in the 21st Century

May 2005

This document outlines the Assembly for Wales' vision of what the people of Wales can expect from their healthcare system by 2015. The vision is due to be delivered in three year tranches.

Aims by 2010

  • Increase of 700 doctors working for NHS Wales
  • Increase of 6000 nurses (40%of this target already achieved)
  • Increase of 2000 other health professionals, including therapists (70% of this target already achieved)

Over the next ten years, this new policy will shift the focus to:

  • lifelong health (ie not illness)
  • fast, safe and effective services including better management of demand at primary and secondary care level
  • world class care
    • services and support at or close to home
    • focus on helping everyone achieve their highest level of independence
    • fast, safe, accessible, effective services
    • skilled staff with a patient focus
    • care environments that are safe and dignified for staff and patients

There are three main areas of development:

  • user centred services - commitment to ensuring that the voice of users is heard; that service changes are based on what works and is sustainable
  • getting the most from resources - improve efficiency and effectiveness right across the service
  • targeted continuous performance improvement in
    • safety
    • effectiveness, eg specific outcomes such as re-mobilisation after stroke or survival after heart attack
    • patient focus
    • timeliness - waiting list targets
    • efficiency - cost comparisons (may lead to national tariff)

A copy of the full document is available from the NHS Wales website