equity and excellence: liberating the NHS

Despite the coalition Government’s promise of no more top-down reorganisations of the NHS, Andrew Lansley today (12 July 2010) announced what is being described as the biggest restructuring of the NHS since it began.  At its heart is the switch to GP commissioning, handing around £80 billion to GPs, and a push for hospitals to become ‘social enterprises’, as Lansley tries to empower doctors and nurses, improve health outcomes and put patients at the centre of the NHS.

Despite having six years to develop his vision, today’s announcement has been met with some scepticism and has been reported as a “white paper with a green-ish tinge”. With the plans set to go out for further consultation in July, another flagship coalition policy seems set for a bumpy ride.

For a more detailed analysis of today’s White Paper, see hanover’s briefing note here.