Doctors back sensible shake-up of Welsh NHS

24 Jul 08
Doctors have welcomed plans announced by Welsh Health Minister Edwina Hart for a wholesale reorganisation of the NHS in Wales, which would scrap the existing trusts and the 22 health boards.

25 July 2008

Doctors have welcomed plans announced by Welsh Health Minister Edwina Hart for a wholesale reorganisation of the NHS in Wales, which would scrap the existing trusts and the 22 health boards.

They would be replaced by seven new area organisations providing both community and hospital services – a similar system to those operating in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Dr Tony Calland, chair of the British Medical Association's Welsh Council, said: 'Large numbers of BMA members feel that this is the sensible move to try to reduce the number of barriers that there are for patients on their journey from primary to secondary care.'

The plans have been put out for consultation until September after initial proposals to reduce the number of boards and end the internal market in the NHS received favourable responses.

Hart said: 'The overwhelming view from both the responses and the consultation events was that I should go further than initially suggested. My aim is to free up as much money as possible to channel directly to frontline services. By ending the internal market in the NHS and having one organisation to deliver all health care services, we will have a more joined-up approach, which will benefit patients and staff.'

The One Wales agreement under which Labour and Plaid Cymru share power, commits the coalition to ending the internal NHS market by 2011.

 

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