Boris Johnson planning NHS England overhaul, leaked paper shows

[Northerner]

Boris Johnson is planning a radical overhaul of NHS England, as he reverses controversial privatisation policies introduced by David Cameron, a leaked document suggests.

According to the draft white paper, the government is planning to reduce the role of the private sector in NHS England and give the health secretary greater control.

NHS commissioners would not be required to put contracts out to tender, which can draw competition from competing health groups. Instead, a new policy would leave the NHS and local authorities to run services and encourage them to work together more effectively.

The health secretary would also take more direct control over NHS England, with the plans putting emphasis on reducing bureaucracy and improving integration between the different departments of the NHS.

Boris Johnson planning NHS England overhaul, leaked paper shows

Plans would put end to David Cameron policies seen as step towards privatisation of the NHS

www.theguardian.com

Seems the pandemic has had some influence on Tory thinking on the NHS... 🙄 But, more power to Matt Hancock? 😱

 

[grovesy]

Not suprised in the least!

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Not suprised in the least!

I am. It seems an unusually sane proposal. (Admittedly it risks centralising power, which isn't ideal. But reducing the daft "internal market" ideas seems positive to me.)

 

[trophywench]

Well the chances of it being perfect are not massive, whatever occurs. But there is so much disparity at the moment - the current 'Libre 2' prescribing highlights this in spades - but is hardly a massive problem in the overall scheme of things for the population of the UK albeit - so as long as that 'communication' bit doesn't get ignored along the way that surely IS the main thing?

We have all seen during the last 12 months that the NHS is capable of communicating quickly and efficiently when it's needed - and it's KEY that it shouldn't lose this momentum.

Nurture & build on the foundations with the best materials !!

 

[mikeyB]

Maybe that's why Boris went to Scotland last week, to look at a NHS that works without any private contractors, save food services. Nor does it have CCGs either. The fewer monkeys that are employed, the organ grinder saves money.

 

[Northerner]

I'm sure I read some negative press about these 'Integrated Care Systems' being introduced a couple of years ago, chiefly because the intention was they would be managed by big US corporations. Can't find the references though, perhaps it was just a part of the Tory nightmare I frequently experience when they pipe up about the NHS... 🙄

ETA: I came across this, which is probably what I was thinking about:

Controversy has arisen around whether these developments could open the door to privatisation of the NHS. Concerns were most prominent around the development of the integrated care provider contract (previously known as the accountable care organisation contract – terminology that stoked fears of a move to an American-style health system), with campaigners arguing that this could lead to health and care services coming under the control of private companies. Two judicial reviews were brought against NHS England in relation to the contract, but both were dismissed. The NHS long-term plan subsequently set out an expectation that integrated care provider contracts would be held by public statutory providers, and NHS England and NHS Improvement has proposed legislative changes to formalise this. The emergence of stronger public sector partnerships and the erosion of market-based reforms are unlikely to lead to a larger role for private companies in delivering NHS services.

Integrated care systems explained

Integrated care services represent a fundamental shift in the way the health and care system is organised. This explainer looks at how these bodies are structured, how they are developing and what the future holds.

www.kingsfund.org.uk

 

[grovesy]

I saw a GP saying in his time he had been a Dr, he had experienced 5 reorganisations and they all brought some degree of chaos.

 

[trophywench]

Well it ain't just GPs - anyone that works for the same employer for a good while, experiences re-organisations and management changes - who had even heard of 'Teams' in the 1960s? Let alone Blue Sky Thinking or OMG - computers !