NHS England should scrap many of its national targets, review says

Government-commissioned study by Patricia Hewitt also calls for a shift in focus towards preventing ill health

The NHS should abolish many of its national targets while shifting its focus towards preventive healthcare, according to a review by a former Labour health secretary.

The study by Patricia Hewitt, commissioned by the government and due to be published on Tuesday, will say that, while targets can help concentrate the minds of those responsible for a service, having too many makes them less effective.