Which scientific advances will help tackle the problems the NHS faces?
鈥淭op of my list is genomic medicine. The 100,000 genomes project could make us world leaders in comparing genotypes and phenotypes, which will assist the treatment of current patients and provide lifestyle advice for future generations. Early success for relatively low investment is within our reach.鈥� Robert Naylor, chief executive of University College London Hospitals
鈥淪ome way of enabling patchily applied knowledge to be applied consistently would yield the greatest benefits. Call it improvement or reliability science. Variation is the Achilles鈥� heel of the NHS and, indeed, all Western health systems.鈥� Bob Young, diabetologist at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
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鈥淭he number of older people with at least three separate conditions is expected to rise from 1.9 million in 2008 to 2.9 million by 2018. Living longer in poor health doesn鈥檛 seem a very attractive prospect. Science is trying to address individual conditions, but this needs to expand to include the combination of conditions. This would enable older people to maintain their independence for longer.鈥� Jane Collins, chief executive, Marie Curie Cancer Care
鈥淥ur best hope is to learn how the complex system that is society can create wellness. The way we organise ourselves socially and economically determines outcomes, not just in health but in all spheres of life. Positive well-being outcomes are achieved by myriad influences. Understanding how they interact and, more importantly, the methods that might be used to change the outcomes of this complex system will be essential.鈥� Harry Burns, professor of global public health, University of Strathclyde
Read more: 鈥�NHS game-changers: The key challenges to healthcare鈥�
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淪oundbites: How to save the NHS鈥�