This is a talking point published in the Hereford Times on November 14.

Glen Burley, chief executive, Wye Valley NHS Trust

THE new Government recently published Lord Darzi’s independent report into the performance of the NHS.

Work is now under way to produce a 10-year plan in response and the process will involve a high level of public engagement.

The catalyst for the review was concerning fact that the NHS has not delivered on any of its key constitutional standards for quite some time.

Significant internal factors were identified in the report, but it helpfully also recognised that NHS demand is driven by many societal factors which are well beyond its remit.

The report shows that while people now live longer that they did before the NHS was created, we have recently seen healthy life expectancy and secondary prevention for people with an illness can both help to reduce visits to the GP or hospital.

I think that we need a new deal with the public to seek to slow down the ever-increasing demands placed on the NHS.

No one really wants to pay more taxes, and no one wants to be ill, but demand on the NHS continues to rise.

To tackle this, the plan has been tasked with delivering on three ‘mission shifts’: to move from analogue to digital, to move from hospital to home and finally to move from treating illness to focus more on prevention.

Prevention is a big subject. Education, housing, wealth and the environment all significantly contribute to our health and wellbeing.

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What are your thoughts?

You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here.

Letters should not exceed 250 words and local issues take precedence.

Health advice for the well and secondary prevention for people with an illness can both help to reduce visits to the GP or hospital.

I think that we need a new deal with the public to seek to slow down the ever-increasing demands placed on the NHS.

Any ideas would be welcome through the consultation website www.longtermplan. nhs.uk.