NHS Future Forum to examine further health reforms

18 Aug 11
The body that led the consultation on the government’s controversial NHS reforms has been asked to undertake further work by the Department for Health.

By Richard Johnstone | 18 August 2011

The body that led the consultation on the government’s controversial NHS reforms has been asked to undertake further work by the Department for Health.

The NHS Future Forum will consult patients, service users and professionals on four main areas: the use of information to improve health; the development of health care education and training; ensuring the reform plans lead to better integrated care; and ensuring public health remains at the heart of the NHS.

The forum, an independent group of health experts led by GP Steve Field, was set up as part of the government’s ‘listening exercise’ to address widespread concerns over the changes in the Health & Social Care Bill

The British Medical Association and other trade unions and patient groups were among those objecting to the reforms, which included replacing primary care trusts with GP commissioners and introducing more competition into the NHS by allowing ‘any qualified provider’ to bid for services.

Following the listening exercise, the government announced a number of changes to the plans in June. These included changing GP commissioners to GP-led commissioning groups, scrapping the April 2013 deadline for implementing the new structure, and phasing in the introduction of greater choice and competition.

Parts of the Bill have been changed and have been recommitted to Parliament for examination by the MPs when they return from the summer recess.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley today said that the work of the Future Forum allowed the government to ‘address head on the concerns people had’. He added: ‘I’m delighted that the NHS Future Forum will continue its excellent work with patients, service users and professionals, looking at important issues such as education and training, and ensuring we work towards an improved health care system.’

Field said: ‘If we want the health and care system to change and meet the challenges of the future, then it is essential that we make sure that the thoughts and concerns of clinicians and, importantly, patients and service users, are listened to.

‘With a broader membership across health and social care and a defined focus, I believe the NHS Future Forum will stimulate important debate on issues that really matter to people.’

NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar said he was glad that the end of the pause did not mark the end of the listening and that the forum would continue to play a role.

He said: ‘In designing its health care reforms, the government must listen with sufficient care to the views of people with the know-how to make the policies work on the ground.

‘This is particularly important as we move from legislation to implementation over the next couple of years.

To help the forum with its work, the Department of Health has also today published the summary of responses to education and training and information consultations launched last year. The forum will report back to ministers later this year.

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