03.10.12
Working differently
Labour has reinforced its promise to revoke the health and social care reforms, and reverse privatisation in the NHS.
And again, the party has pledged to do this in a way which will not result in a top-down reorganisation. Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham has stated: “I wouldn’t create new organisations or throw the NHS upside down into another reorganisation because I will simply ask the organisation I inherit to work differently.”
Asking the NHS to simply “work differently” whilst moving responsibility for commissioning from CCGs to councils, as has been suggested, giving hospital trusts more responsibility for mental and social care – that will certainly be an impressive feat.
Perhaps before the Bill was introduced the NHS could have been improved in the necessary ways just by working differently.
But taking on an entirely reworked NHS and expecting it to just go back to how it was is implausible to say the least.
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]