Dear Susan …‘Lord D’ …and the going down of the sun on the NHS…(or is there still hope?)

Following Lord Darzi's independent investigation of the NHS in England (published in September 2024) the author is convinced that this third Dear Susan... paperback is relevant to decisions about to be taken by the Government to inform its ten-year health plan - promised for the spring of 2025.

'Lord D....' set the cat amongst the pigeons by pointing out the challenges facing the NHS. It is now time to deal with those "crumbling buildings" ' his investigation complains about by quickly sorting out the state of the NHS Estate in a planned and comprehensive way.

The intention is to show how the NHS might be provided with a rapidly built new generation of smaller hospitals starting with those for trauma care and elective care. These "machines for healing" could assist the NHS in facing up to its preventable crisis by adopting a new smaller hospitals buildings-led initiative. These smaller hospitals might come alongside failing hospitals needing life-support. Or, be more sensibly located away from an existing hospital for a fresh start and a new kind of health care provision - to re engage staff, restore trust and to help achieve better outcomes for all patients.

This third paperback of a Dear Susan... trilogy introduces and explains a series of uncomplicated coloured architectual plans. It is an all singing and dancing psychedelic version of the previous two and really is the author's final fling! He is hoping that this might complete his story for his non-responsive target audience - and prove to be third time lucky!

'Lord D....' is the only one making any sense - so perhaps he might also consider how this paperback could be used to throw a life line to the NHS by backing the building of a few smaller hospitals quickly - for starters.