As we wait to hear who will govern the UK, the charity National Voices calls on the new government to put patients and families at the heart of decisions around health and social care.

In this time of uncertainty some things are already clear and National Voices – a coalition of 200 heath and care charities - outlines the issues that must be addressed:

Politicians need to be honest about the scale of the financial challenge in the NHS and what it will mean for services.

We need a new way for communities to be involved in local service change. Existing mechanisms don’t work and waste money. They can lead to poor decisions and public disaffection.

Patients, carers and families need to have much greater control over decisions about their own care – we can no longer afford the old paternalist model.

Reform of social care for elderly and disabled people must not be kicked into the long grass. The unfairness and confusion in the current system must be tackled with a sense of urgency.

Jeremy Taylor, chief executive of National Voices, says: “Now the election is over, the challenges facing health and social care must be tackled with urgency. National Voices looks forward to working with the new government to put people at the heart of health and social care.”