19.01.11
Final countdown for ‘big bang’ NHS reforms
Ministers are presenting the Health and Social Care bill to Parliament today and have been revealing more about the controversial NHS reforms which will abolish much of the organisational structure of the health service, increase competition and introduce GP commissioning.
After a slew of consultation papers and policy documents last year, the reforms will begin to make their way into law from today.
The broad thrust of the reforms commands popular support among many of the professional health associations and unions, but the scale, pace and some details of the changes have attracted criticism at high levels. Six major health unions have attacked the implementation of the reforms, and the Health Select Committee said they have not been handled well and contain a number of risks.
Labour says the reforms amount to NHS privatisation, due to the scale of competition proposed and the unprecedented access private companies will get to the NHS.
Health secretary Andrew Lansley said the reforms will, among other things, boost health outcomes and increase accountability and transparency, driving standards up.
He will publish the bill this afternoon.
For more on NHS and political reaction to the reforms, visit www.nationalhealthexecutive.com/healthcare-news.htm
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