6 Conclusion
107. As it has said many times the Committee
regards the subject matter of this report as a key challenge facing
the health and care system. However, in the light of the recent
publication of the Francis Report on the service failures which
occurred in the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust it clear
that the issues presented by the Nicholson Challenge are not the
only ones facing the NHS.
108. The Committee is currently conducting hearings
on the issues raised by the Francis Report and it will report
separately following those hearings. In the meantime, however,
the Committee is clear that there is no choice to be made between
addressing the issues posed in the Nicholson Challenge (meeting
demand out of constrained resources) and the issues posed by Francis
(improving the culture within which care is delivered). Neither
challenge is avoidable.
109. The Committee believes that the integrated
care model set out in this report is the best available answer
to both challenges.
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