policy: Andrew lansley launches health white paper
12 July 2010
Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, has launched his first White Paper, ‘Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS’, describing the measures included as instigating a “decisive” shift in power towards patients and professionals. The White Paper details a range of proposals for reform to the NHS, as well as a raft of policies designed to make £20 billion of efficiency savings over the next four years. Some of the measures that will have the greatest impact on the third sector are outlined below:
- There is a clear commitment to enabling “any willing provider” to deliver healthcare services, as well as a confirmation of the Government’s intention to extend payment by results, rewarding quality and efficiency. There is an explicit pledge to create “the largest social enterprise sector in the world”, giving more opportunities for NHS staff spin-offs. All NHS Trusts will become Foundation Trusts which will be regulated in the same way as any other provider, whether from the voluntary or private sector.
- A theme throughout the White Paper is a shift towards preventative health, with obvious positive implications for the role of the third sector. In particular, there is a push towards “breaking down barriers between health and social care funding”.
- A new ‘outcomes framework’ will be introduced to replace ‘top-down’ targets. This will specify a number of outcomes that organisations delivering healthcare should be working towards and “leaving professionals to understand how these can be achieved”. In particular, Lansley gave the example of minimising avoidable hospital infections and increasing the number of stroke victims able to live independently.
- Consortia of GPs will be given the responsibility for commissioning “the great majority of NHS services” in their local area. These will be overseen by a newly established NHS Board which was described as being “independent and accountable”.
- Wherever possible, the Government intend to publish information on services on a commissioner basis, including public assessments of how well commissioners are performing. Transparency is a major theme of the White Paper with individuals being given control over their health records. Proposals include people being able to share their records with third parties, including third sector support groups, who can help them understand their records and manage their condition better.
- There was a specific commitment to extending personal budgets and offering patients real choice over their provider, their consultant-led team, GP practice and treatment.
- PCTs and SHAs will both be phased out by 2013 with local authorities taking on a range of new responsibilities. These include promoting integration and partnership working between the NHS, social care, public health and other local services and strategies; leading joint strategic needs assessments and promoting collaboration on local commissioning plans, including by supporting joint commissioning arrangements where appropriate; and building partnerships for service changes and priorities.
Lansley also announced that the Health Bill will be published later this year. The White Paper can be downloaded here.
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