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PM seeks to allay fears, but insists change is needed PM seeks to allay fears, but insists change is needed
(40 minutes later)
By Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC NewsBy Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC News
The government will not take risks with the NHS in England, Prime Minister David Cameron says.The government will not take risks with the NHS in England, Prime Minister David Cameron says.
But at the launch of a new push to convince critics that the reforms are right, he said sticking with the status quo was not an option.But at the launch of a new push to convince critics that the reforms are right, he said sticking with the status quo was not an option.
The prime minister was joined by his deputy Nick Clegg and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to try to present a united front amid widespread criticism.The prime minister was joined by his deputy Nick Clegg and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to try to present a united front amid widespread criticism.
Labour has branded the move a "PR stunt".Labour has branded the move a "PR stunt".
Speaking at a hospital in Surrey, Mr Cameron said change was necessary because of rising demands on the health service from factors such as the ageing population.Speaking at a hospital in Surrey, Mr Cameron said change was necessary because of rising demands on the health service from factors such as the ageing population.
He added: "I'm in politics not to take risks with the NHS but to safeguard and improve the NHS for today and future generations.He added: "I'm in politics not to take risks with the NHS but to safeguard and improve the NHS for today and future generations.
"If we want to keep the NHS free at the point of use we have to make it more efficient - sticking with the status quo is not going to work.""If we want to keep the NHS free at the point of use we have to make it more efficient - sticking with the status quo is not going to work."
Greater freedomsGreater freedoms
He said there would be a series of events over the next two months where ministers would be meeting with the public and those working in the NHS to explain the reforms and to see if improvements could be made.He said there would be a series of events over the next two months where ministers would be meeting with the public and those working in the NHS to explain the reforms and to see if improvements could be made.
But he insisted there was support for the basic principles - putting patients and GPs in charge, reducing bureancracy and giving greater freedoms to hospitals.But he insisted there was support for the basic principles - putting patients and GPs in charge, reducing bureancracy and giving greater freedoms to hospitals.
After weeks - make that months of criticism - the government is facing a tricky balancing act.After weeks - make that months of criticism - the government is facing a tricky balancing act.
Most people agree the NHS cannot stand still - the ageing population, rising cost of drugs and lifestyle factors like obesity means costs are outstripping the rise in funding the health service is getting.Most people agree the NHS cannot stand still - the ageing population, rising cost of drugs and lifestyle factors like obesity means costs are outstripping the rise in funding the health service is getting.
And so the government is fully committed to the basic principles of the reform programme - GPs holding the purse strings and greater competition. There will be no U-turn.And so the government is fully committed to the basic principles of the reform programme - GPs holding the purse strings and greater competition. There will be no U-turn.
But at the same time ministers recognise they have a job to do to convince the NHS and wider public that the changes they are making are the right ones.But at the same time ministers recognise they have a job to do to convince the NHS and wider public that the changes they are making are the right ones.
That is going to require reassurance, clarification and perhaps, hardest of all, compromise.That is going to require reassurance, clarification and perhaps, hardest of all, compromise.
The government has also enlisted Professor Steve Field, the former chairman of the Royal College of GPs, to head a panel of experts - called the NHS Future Forum - which will take a leading role in the "listening exercise".The government has also enlisted Professor Steve Field, the former chairman of the Royal College of GPs, to head a panel of experts - called the NHS Future Forum - which will take a leading role in the "listening exercise".
Under the government's overhaul of the NHS, GPs are to be given control of much of the budget - allowing two tiers of management to be scrapped.Under the government's overhaul of the NHS, GPs are to be given control of much of the budget - allowing two tiers of management to be scrapped.
The NHS is also to be opened up to greater competition.The NHS is also to be opened up to greater competition.
The government took the step of launching the "listening exercise" after Mr Lansley accepted in the House of Commons on Monday that there were concerns.The government took the step of launching the "listening exercise" after Mr Lansley accepted in the House of Commons on Monday that there were concerns.
He told MPs he wanted to use a natural pause in the parliamentary timetable before the bill underpining the changes returns in late Spring to engage with people.He told MPs he wanted to use a natural pause in the parliamentary timetable before the bill underpining the changes returns in late Spring to engage with people.
Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Lansley said the two-month exercise was a "genuine opportunity to shape the future of the health service".Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Lansley said the two-month exercise was a "genuine opportunity to shape the future of the health service".
The move has come after the government has already said it would make some changes to the plans.The move has come after the government has already said it would make some changes to the plans.
Amendments have been promised to stop private health companies "cherry-picking" the easiest cases, while competition on price will not be allowed, ministers have said.Amendments have been promised to stop private health companies "cherry-picking" the easiest cases, while competition on price will not be allowed, ministers have said.
It is thought likely that in the coming months the government will make clear that the April 2013 cut-off for GPs to take on the budget is not an absolute deadline.It is thought likely that in the coming months the government will make clear that the April 2013 cut-off for GPs to take on the budget is not an absolute deadline.
Instead, GP consortia that are not ready will be given support by a national board, led by NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson.Instead, GP consortia that are not ready will be given support by a national board, led by NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson.
Another measure being given serious consideration is the idea of inviting other experts to get involved in the consortia, something which has been proposed by the House of Commons' health committee.Another measure being given serious consideration is the idea of inviting other experts to get involved in the consortia, something which has been proposed by the House of Commons' health committee.
The cross-party group of MPs said involving the likes of hospital doctors, public health chiefs and councillors would improve accountability and decision-making.The cross-party group of MPs said involving the likes of hospital doctors, public health chiefs and councillors would improve accountability and decision-making.
Nigel Edwards, of the NHS Confederation, which represents managers, welcomed the listening exercise, saying his members had concerns about the plans.Nigel Edwards, of the NHS Confederation, which represents managers, welcomed the listening exercise, saying his members had concerns about the plans.
He said the pause in progress represented a "needed process of dialogue and communication with professionals, patients and the public".He said the pause in progress represented a "needed process of dialogue and communication with professionals, patients and the public".
British Medical Association leader Dr Hamish Meldrum said: "We see it as positive that the government is committed to listening. How serious it is about making real changes remains to be seen."British Medical Association leader Dr Hamish Meldrum said: "We see it as positive that the government is committed to listening. How serious it is about making real changes remains to be seen."
But shadow health secretary John Healey said he remained doubtful meaningful changes would be made, suggesting that the government had failed to listen during the official consultation and during debates in Parliament.But shadow health secretary John Healey said he remained doubtful meaningful changes would be made, suggesting that the government had failed to listen during the official consultation and during debates in Parliament.
"The pause looks suspiciously like a PR stunt to quell the coalition of criticism.""The pause looks suspiciously like a PR stunt to quell the coalition of criticism."


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There is nothing wrong with the structure of theNHS all that needs to happen with PCT's is to take out layers of the management structure.There is too many people employed on temporary contracts through agencies. Also people employed on consultancy contracts being paid massive amounts of money. If reforms go through too much money will go to the Private sector without any doubt.There is nothing wrong with the structure of theNHS all that needs to happen with PCT's is to take out layers of the management structure.There is too many people employed on temporary contracts through agencies. Also people employed on consultancy contracts being paid massive amounts of money. If reforms go through too much money will go to the Private sector without any doubt.
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    • I'd like GP services to be the ones that are competetive in providing access convenient to patients. As the NHS is supposedly for the patient, then I'd like to choose the GP I go to based on a) access times, b) location c) track record in liaising with hospitals should that be required. The reforms don't provide this, Most GPs don't really know their patients so how can they know what's best?I'd like GP services to be the ones that are competetive in providing access convenient to patients. As the NHS is supposedly for the patient, then I'd like to choose the GP I go to based on a) access times, b) location c) track record in liaising with hospitals should that be required. The reforms don't provide this, Most GPs don't really know their patients so how can they know what's best?
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    • It's all very well talking about putting money into direct care services but it takes some organisation, requires governance and needs to be accountable. How much time would people like Drs & nurses to spend doing that instead of caring for patients, once the back office roles are indiscriminately dispensed with?It's all very well talking about putting money into direct care services but it takes some organisation, requires governance and needs to be accountable. How much time would people like Drs & nurses to spend doing that instead of caring for patients, once the back office roles are indiscriminately dispensed with?
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    • The only reason we have so large a management structure is to manage the constant change imposed by government, if the NHS was left alone with a long term plan, it would be allowed to become efficient rather than provide a series of short term vote gains. The cost of £2-4 bn will not be covered by efficiency savings as trusts are struggling to find them without cutting services.The only reason we have so large a management structure is to manage the constant change imposed by government, if the NHS was left alone with a long term plan, it would be allowed to become efficient rather than provide a series of short term vote gains. The cost of £2-4 bn will not be covered by efficiency savings as trusts are struggling to find them without cutting services.
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    • There is nothing wrong with the current NHS structure. We just need to look at the current staffing levels and remove any uncessary bean-counters and wasters. The Tories are seeing this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to push massive funds into the private sector. This will be a disaster as GPs cant handle the workload - it will all go to private management companies who will fleece us.There is nothing wrong with the current NHS structure. We just need to look at the current staffing levels and remove any uncessary bean-counters and wasters. The Tories are seeing this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to push massive funds into the private sector. This will be a disaster as GPs cant handle the workload - it will all go to private management companies who will fleece us.
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