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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| NHS shake-up 'hands power to GPs' | NHS shake-up 'hands power to GPs' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Doctors would pay hospitals direct under the new proposals | Doctors would pay hospitals direct under the new proposals |
| Doctors could be handed responsibility and funding for most health services under a radical shake-up of the NHS in England, under ministerial plans. | Doctors could be handed responsibility and funding for most health services under a radical shake-up of the NHS in England, under ministerial plans. |
| Local trusts and strategic health authorities would be sharply scaled back to make way for their new role. | Local trusts and strategic health authorities would be sharply scaled back to make way for their new role. |
| Health Secretary Andrew Lansley believes GPs are best placed to understand patients' needs and to decide where money should be spent. | Health Secretary Andrew Lansley believes GPs are best placed to understand patients' needs and to decide where money should be spent. |
| But there are concerns GPs may not have the skills or will to take on the role. | But there are concerns GPs may not have the skills or will to take on the role. |
| Others have questioned how they would be held accountable. | Others have questioned how they would be held accountable. |
| Discussions with doctors' representatives over the plans are continuing, and the government has confirmed it will publish further details in a white paper next week. | Discussions with doctors' representatives over the plans are continuing, and the government has confirmed it will publish further details in a white paper next week. |
| 'Radical plans' | 'Radical plans' |
| They involve setting up groups of practices which would work together in consortia, then buy in management skills, possibly from people doing the same job for existing primary care trusts. | They involve setting up groups of practices which would work together in consortia, then buy in management skills, possibly from people doing the same job for existing primary care trusts. |
| At present, the government gives funds to local trusts which pay for patients in their area to be treated in hospital. | At present, the government gives funds to local trusts which pay for patients in their area to be treated in hospital. |
| Under the new proposals, doctors would receive the money instead and pay hospitals directly for referrals. | Under the new proposals, doctors would receive the money instead and pay hospitals directly for referrals. |
| BBC health correspondent Adam Brimelow said: "After six-and-a-half years shadowing the post in opposition, Mr Lansley has come in with detailed and radical plans to change the NHS." | |
| Different challenges | Different challenges |
| The NHS budget has been protected by the coalition government, and is not subject to the severe cuts of other Whitehall departments. | The NHS budget has been protected by the coalition government, and is not subject to the severe cuts of other Whitehall departments. |
| But the health service has been told to save up to £20bn by 2014 to help it cope with the ageing population, rising drug prices and lifestyle changes such as obesity. | But the health service has been told to save up to £20bn by 2014 to help it cope with the ageing population, rising drug prices and lifestyle changes such as obesity. |
| The Royal College of Nursing has claimed almost 10,000 posts - double the number from two months ago - are being cut despite government promises to protect frontline services. | The Royal College of Nursing has claimed almost 10,000 posts - double the number from two months ago - are being cut despite government promises to protect frontline services. |
| Are you a GP or a patient? Do you think GPs should take responsibility for health funding? Send us your comments | Are you a GP or a patient? Do you think GPs should take responsibility for health funding? Send us your comments |