State of healthcare reports

The Healthcare Commission must present a report on the provision of healthcare by or for NHS bodies to Parliament every year.

State of healthcare 2007

The State of Healthcare 2007 report was published on 4 December 2007.

Find out more about the report

Download the State of Healthcare 2007 report (PDF 1510kb) (Opens new window)

State of healthcare 2006

Published October 30 2006

The report makes clear that healthcare is improving and that most patients are positive, but there remains challenges. It presses for more attention on services for people least able to look after themselves, including those with learning disabilities and mental health conditions. And more should be done to "put patients first" by ensuring that people are treated with dignity and respect and get better information about their care.

For the first time, the report includes a view of performance in meeting the minimum standards for the independent sector in England.

State of Healthcare 2006 - English (pdf 2346kb) (opens new window)

State of healthcare 2006 reference list with web links (pdf 157kb) (opens new window)

State of Healthcare 2006 - Welsh (pdf 1387kb) (opens new window)

Press release: October 30 2006: health watchdog calls for consistent action on safety and better services for people least able to care for themselves.

State of Healthcare 2006 - online feedback form (opens new window)

State of healthcare 2005

Published July 18 2005

The Healthcare Commission has published its second report on the state of healthcare in England and Wales, focusing for the first time on the experience of patients.

The report asks three questions: do people receive effective healthcare services, do they have enough control over the care that they receive, and do some get a better deal from healthcare services than others? It pulls together the most up to date evidence on the experience of patients, including the findings of the Healthcare Commission's own surveys of patients.

The commission strongly praises the improvements that have taken place in some services, such as cancer and heart services. But other services have been left behind, such as sexual health, mental health, maternity and dental services.

Please note: This report was updated on July 26th 2005.

State of Healthcare 2005 - English (PDF, 1764K) (opens new window)

State of Healthcare 2005 - Welsh (PDF, 1771K) (opens new window)

State of Healthcare 2005 report references

Press release: 18 July 2005: Despite improvements NHS still falls short on putting patients first, says watchdog

We commissioned a series of focus groups during the development of the report. Participants of eight discussion groups were given single page summaries of emerginng findings following a draft structure of the report (with initially five chapters). The main purpose was to find out if people considered the findings of the report clear, credible and relevant to them. The groups were held in mid May 2005 and where possible we adapted the report to address points raised (e.g. clarifying the sources of figures used and adding more detail, where available, on older people's and maternity services).

Opinion Leader Research (opens new window)