As the government presses ahead with NHS reforms, ministers have been warned that they must do more to inform the public on how the reforms will be pushed through without hitting patient care in what may be “the toughest year” in the NHS’s 62-year history.
Nigel Edwards, acting chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said, “The Government has so far failed properly to explain how it would manage the move to a radically different set-up or protect accountability.”
The head of the independent membership organisation, whose call is published days after expert warnings that waiting lists could rise without extra Government investment in the health service, indicated that he backed the principle of the radical shake-up.
Under the proposed reforms, GPs will take control of the NHS’ multi-billion pound budget by 2013. With this change will see primary care trusts and strategic health care being abolished as GPs and GP consortiums take on the responsibility for managing local services including planning hospital care and services for patients.
Nigel Edwards added, “The Confederation supported the objectives and also recognised the need for the NHS to cut costs in line with the squeeze on public spending – from which it has been directly spared – but retained serious concerns.”
“2011 will be really tough for the NHS, possibly the toughest year it has faced. If the issues are not fully recognised, they will be dealt with poorly and patients will be the losers,” he told members.
“The NHS is going to have to get all hands to the pumps and it will need all the help it can get. We need policy-makers to fully understand the pressures, to act to mitigate the risks and to persuade those involved that we are on the right course.”
“The mechanics of who does what to whom and who overseas it is done correctly will be central to making the new system work. It needs to be crystal clear, but it remains a grey area and is therefore one of the biggest risks to the reforms working.”
“Parliament will also have to grapple with the issues of whether the reforms are powerful enough to achieve their goals.”
“However, it is the transition that is causing greatest anxiety to the NHS and we have to get there first. That will mean avoiding hazards such as financial problems and failings in patient care.”
Shadow health secretary John Healey said, “Mr Edwards’ comments were not what people expected when David Cameron promised to protect the NHS.”
He said, “When the NHS must deal with such as tight financial squeeze, this is exactly the wrong time to force the NHS through a big internal reorganisation which could cost £3 billion when this money is needed for frontline staff and to treat patients.”
With 2011 looking as if it could be the toughest year in the NHS’s history as budget cuts and reforms continue, patient care is still paramount to the government’s electoral promise of reducing NHS costs, while protecting frontline services. As cutbacks continue, the demand placed on healthcare professionals is only to increase. MPP Locums will continue to provide first class service to the NHS.
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