THE GOVERNMENT HAS LISTENED AND IS NOW IMPROVING ITS PLANS FOR
THE NHS, ACCEPTING THE MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INDEPENDENT
NHS FUTURE FORUM.
The Government today accepted the core recommendations of the
report from the independent NHS Future Forum, the group of health
experts, and made changes to put patients at the centre of the
health service.
The changes will mean less bureaucracy and waste, a greater focus
on quality and results for patients, and more freedom for doctors,
nurses and the wider frontline.
Speaking at a London hospital,the Prime Minister David
Cameron said:
“The fundamentals of our plans – more control for patients, more
power to doctors and nurses, and less bureaucracy in the NHS – are
as strong today as they have ever been. But the detail of how we
are going to make this all work has really changed as a direct
result of this consultation.
“We have listened, we have learned, and we are improving our
plans for the NHS. Ten weeks ago we paused our legislation. Today
we show how we are improving it. We are taking people with us and
it is in this spirit of unity that we are going to carry on
listening and working together for the good of the NHS.”
The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:
“We all know how important the NHS is to the British people. It
isn’t just a system or a service. The NHS says something about who
we are: a nation that cares for its citizens when they need it,
whatever their means. The NHS isn’t a machine. You can’t flick a
switch and turn it on and off. It’s a living, breathing part of
our lives. Reforming an institution like that takes time. We have
to be careful and considered. It’s too important to get this wrong.
“Patients, doctors and nurses have spoken. We have listened. Now
we are improving our plans for the NHS. Yes to patient choice. No
to privatisation. Yes to giving nurses, hospital doctors and
family doctors more say in your care. No to the free market dogma
that can fragment the NHS. The right reforms at the right pace.
Evolution, not revolution.”
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:
“The independent NHS Future Forum has made a number of
recommendations and we are accepting them. This has been a genuine
exercise and it is clear from our response today that substantial
changes have been made in the interests of patients.
“The Forum confirmed that there is widespread support for the
principles underpinning our plans for change: greater patient
choice, ‘no decision about me, without me’, more control for
doctors, nurses and frontline professionals, a focus on quality
and results for patients, more information and more clout for the
public. These changes now will help us make those principles a reality.”
Among the key changes announced today include:
Wider involvement in clinical commissioning groups. A wider
range of experts will be given the power and freedom to make
decisions about health services for their local community by, for
example, including nurses and specialists on the boards of
clinical commissioning groups. Stronger safeguards against a
market free-for-all. The health care regulator Monitor’s core duty
will be to protect and promote patients’ interests, it won’t be
required to promote competition as if it were an end in itself.
Additional safeguards against privatisation. We will never
privatise the NHS, and will create a genuine level playing field
to stop private companies ‘cherry-picking’ profitable NHS
business. We will ensure that competition is on quality, not
price. Evolution, not revolution. We will allow clinical
commissioning groups to take charge of commissioning when they are
ready and able, and a more phased approach to the introduction of
Any Qualified Provider. Greater information and choice for
patients. The Government will make clear that the people who make
decisions about local services have a duty to promote patient
choice. And following current pilots, the Government will make it
a priority to extend personal health budgets including across
health and social care. Breaking down barriers within and beyond
the NHS. A new duty for clinical commissioning groups to promote
joined up services both within the NHS and between health, social
care and other local services.Investing for the future of the NHS.
We want all providers to make a fair contribution to the costs of
education and training of NHS staff, but we will introduce changes
carefully and take the time to develop the details right.
In order to ensure that Parliament has sufficient opportunity to
scrutinise the Government's changes, relevant parts of
the Health and Social Care Bill will be recommitted. Further
details of this, and the amendments the Government will make to
the Bill, will be set out shortly.
The Government also today announced the independent NHS Future
Forum will continue to lead on listening in the NHS, ensuring an
effective communication channel with the NHS. Among other areas
they will focus on education and training; patients’ rights and
public health.
Notes to Editors
· The full Government response to the independent NHS Future
Forum report can be found at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/MediaCentre/Pressreleases/DH_127577
· The independent NHS Future Forum report can be found at: http://healthandcare.dh.gov.uk/future-forum-report
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk