Changes to NHS reform plan to be set out
Experts are due to unveil recommendations on the Government’s plans for the NHS after Nick Clegg claimed victory for the Liberal Democrats in the row over health reforms.
The NHS Future Forum will publish its report, setting out proposed amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill, currently on hold on its passage through Parliament.
The medical profession and unions have heavily criticised the bill, particularly over its aim to increase competition between the NHS and private companies.
Last week the Prime Minister outlined “real changes” to the reforms, pre-empting the content of today’s report.
Aides to David Cameron have insisted he was the driving force behind the policy rethink, but some Tory backbenchers believe Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has been “hung out to dry” to appease the Lib Dems.
Mr Clegg will say 11 of 13 demands made by his party – including improving democratic accountability and preventing private firms cherry-picking profitable services – have been secured.
Last week Mr Cameron set out key pledges to alter the Health and Social Care Bill to make it more palatable to MPs and campaigners, announcing that hospital doctors and nurses would now be involved in commissioning care, as well as GPs.
Mr Cameron said the Government had listened to concerns about the bill during its “listening exercise”, which involved more than 200 events across the UK.
The NHS Future Forum’s report is divided into four parts, with recommendations on the role of Monitor, the independent NSH regulator; on training and education for doctors; on accountability; and on membership of the GP commissioning consortia.
Have the Lib Dems saved the NHS?
Liberal Democrats want us to believe the NHS has now been saved by them from unbridled market forces, that a compromise has been found that meets the worries of hospital doctors as well as GPs while still placing power in the hands of the professionals, blogs Krishnan Guru-Murthy. This is the proof, they believe, of their real power in the coalition.
The Conservatives, despite some frustration, believe the direction of travel on reform has been firmly established. The regulator Monitor will concentrate on integration of new providers rather than competition (Lib Dem tick), but there will almost certainly be more private sector contracts in future to provide NHS services (Conservative tick).
GPs will now not be forced to take control of commissioning by 2013 (Lib Dem tick) but it will probably happen in most places eventually, they believe (Conservative tick).
And even though hospital doctors and the public will now be involved in the GP consortia (Lib Dem tick), it will be the primary care providers who hold the upper hand if they want to (Conservative tick).
Read more: Has politics or policy won on the NHS?
