26.06.13
London reforms ‘not fit for purpose’ – The King’s Fund
Growing pressure on the NHS in London has left many trusts struggling to meet new standards for quality of care, a new report from The King’s Fund warns.
Without a major reorganisation of hospitals, improved primary care and more services in the community, more trusts could become financially unsustainable. The King’s Fund states that the current reforms are unlikely to deliver the necessary change, with many new organisations suffering from unclear remits, and no single body responsible for leading change.
The new requirement for competition regulators to scrutinise proposed changes is likely to add to delays in restructuring, the report states.
It recommends the current rules on NHS mergers and competition should be revised or suspended in London, with NHS England’s London office taking on a city-wide planning role to enable major service change. Hospitals would be required to work together in large-scale networks based on the three existing academic science networks.
Chris Ham, chief executive of The King's Fund, said: “Without change, London’s health system is at risk of becoming financially unsustainable, and patient care could suffer. The stakes could not be higher, yet the structures now in place are not fit for purpose. Courage will be needed to implement a radically different approach capable of delivering the changes required.”
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