The BMJ Commission on the Future of the NHS

Convening healthcare leaders to reset national priorities

In its 75th year, the NHS has never been in deeper crisis, and although the problems may seem insoluble, we believe that the central premise of the NHS – a health service free at the point of care for all the population – is worth fighting for. It is possible to create a vision for a society that prioritises outcomes related to health and wellbeing with the NHS at the heart of it.”

Dr Kamran Abbasi
Editor in Chief, The BMJ

In January 2024, we launched The BMJ Commission on the Future of the NHS to identify key areas for analysis and combine them in a series of papers to be published in The BMJ. It has been instrumental in shaping discussions and policies around the future of healthcare in the UK.

By highlighting critical issues such as funding, workforce shortages, and sustainability, the commission has encouraged a broader public discourse, involving patients, health professionals, and stakeholders in meaningful discussions about the future of the NHS in the UK.

The BMJ Commission on the Future of the NHS was launched at the House of Commons to a full room of over 70 engaged attendees, including commissioners, journalists, and Presidents of Royal Colleges. Key figures at the event included  Steve Brine, Chair of the Health Select Committee, Daisy Cooper, Liberal Democrat MP for St Albans; Sheilabye Sobrany, President of the Royal College of Nursing; and Hugh Pym, BBC Health Editor.

The initiative gained extensive national television coverage and front-page newspaper media interest. It also garnered strong dedication and drive from the expert panel of commissioners, showcasing how The BMJ’s extensive networks and ability to attract media attention are crucial in driving meaningful change. The BMJ’s connections enable us to facilitate high-level discussions and mobilise influential voices, ultimately shaping the most beneficial actions and strategies for the future of the NHS.

The BMJ Commission brought together a range of people with different backgrounds and deep experience to produce a powerful set of practical reports which could have important implications for the NHS.”

Nigel Crisp (The Lord Crisp KCB)
Former CEO of the English NHS and Permanent Secretary of the UK Department of Health

We established The BMJ Commission on the Future of the NHS to address the unprecedented crisis in the NHS. The Commission supports the founding principles of the NHS – in other words, a service free at the point of care funded through general taxation – and urges an all party and whole of government consensus on a long term vision for the NHS. One specific proposal is the creation of a new Office of NHS Budgetary Responsibility to hold governments to account for their strategy and plans for the NHS.

An Office of NHS Budgetary Responsibility would ensure more rigorous and independent oversight of NHS budgets. It would help enhance transparency in how funds are allocated and used, promote accountability in financial management, and support better financial planning based on comprehensive and accurate data. Financial decisions would then be well-informed and aligned with the broader goals of sustaining and improving the NHS.