This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7480904.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Quality ranking key to NHS funds Quality ranking key to NHS funds
(20 minutes later)
Patients' rating of the quality of their NHS care will affect hospitals' and GPs' funding in England in the future, ministers have announced.Patients' rating of the quality of their NHS care will affect hospitals' and GPs' funding in England in the future, ministers have announced.
Information on service quality is also set to be displayed on "dashboards" in hospitals, GP surgeries and on the web.Information on service quality is also set to be displayed on "dashboards" in hospitals, GP surgeries and on the web.
The plans for the next 10 years were launched alongside an NHS Constitution setting out rights including speeding up assessments of new drugs.The plans for the next 10 years were launched alongside an NHS Constitution setting out rights including speeding up assessments of new drugs.
The review was carried out by health minister and surgeon Lord Darzi.The review was carried out by health minister and surgeon Lord Darzi.
This is about giving more clout to patients Lord Darzi, health ministerThis is about giving more clout to patients Lord Darzi, health minister
Launching his report he stressed how important quality of care was in the NHS, where-ever and however patients accessed it.Launching his report he stressed how important quality of care was in the NHS, where-ever and however patients accessed it.
He said: "This is about giving more clout to patients, more say to patients.He said: "This is about giving more clout to patients, more say to patients.
"By measuring quality across the service and publishing that information for the first time, both staff and patients can work together to make better informed choices about their care.""By measuring quality across the service and publishing that information for the first time, both staff and patients can work together to make better informed choices about their care."
Health Secretary Alan Johnson told the Commons: "We must have an unwavering, unrelenting focus on quality."
And he said there was aim was to bring "clarity to quality" and streamline the "morass" of existing standards.
How patients' assessment of quality of care is measured has still to be decided, but it is likely to have a major impact on how much money and NHS organisation receives.How patients' assessment of quality of care is measured has still to be decided, but it is likely to have a major impact on how much money and NHS organisation receives.
For example, quality-linked funding could make up between £7-9m of the average district general hospital's budget of around £250m within a few years.For example, quality-linked funding could make up between £7-9m of the average district general hospital's budget of around £250m within a few years.
Information on the quality of a local hospital or GP practice's care will also be available on the NHS Choices website, and on clinical "dashboards".Information on the quality of a local hospital or GP practice's care will also be available on the NHS Choices website, and on clinical "dashboards".
One existing example in a London A&E displays regularly updated details of how soon patients are seen, assessed and get test results and about patient satisfaction.One existing example in a London A&E displays regularly updated details of how soon patients are seen, assessed and get test results and about patient satisfaction.
Personal budgetsPersonal budgets
Lord Darzi also published a draft constitution setting out, for the first time, the rights of patients.Lord Darzi also published a draft constitution setting out, for the first time, the rights of patients.
One of those rights is to all drugs and treatments approved by the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), and for new drugs to be appraised much faster, so decisions are issued within a few months.One of those rights is to all drugs and treatments approved by the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), and for new drugs to be appraised much faster, so decisions are issued within a few months.
FIND OUT MORE As the NHS turns 60, BBC News is giving it a health check. Watch out for reports, features and analysis on TV, radio and the web.FIND OUT MORE As the NHS turns 60, BBC News is giving it a health check. Watch out for reports, features and analysis on TV, radio and the web.
In an earlier report, he proposed 150 GP-led health centres would be introduced across England, open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.In an earlier report, he proposed 150 GP-led health centres would be introduced across England, open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
These have been opposed by doctors' leaders who fear they will harm existing primary care provision.These have been opposed by doctors' leaders who fear they will harm existing primary care provision.
This final report goes further in changing how GPs work, proposing to remove a minimum income guarantee for practices and linking funding to easy access and high quality care.This final report goes further in changing how GPs work, proposing to remove a minimum income guarantee for practices and linking funding to easy access and high quality care.
It also gives patients greater choice over which GP practice they use.
Lord Darzi's review also says all 15 million patients with long-term conditions will be given a personal care plan, and 5,000 of them will pilot new personal budgets.Lord Darzi's review also says all 15 million patients with long-term conditions will be given a personal care plan, and 5,000 of them will pilot new personal budgets.
A campaign urging people aged 40-74 to have their blood pressure and cholesterol checked will also be launched.
There will also be a review of doctors' training, focusing on their first two years after medical school.