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NHS reforms not a risk, says PM We won't take risks with NHS - PM
(40 minutes later)
By Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC NewsBy Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC News
The government is not taking risks with the NHS in England, Prime Minister David Cameron has said. The government will not take risks with the NHS in England, Prime Minister David Cameron says.
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 as they 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 reforms an "expensive PR stunt." Labour has branded the move an "expensive 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.
The government has also enlisted Professor Steve Field, the former chairman of the Royal College of GPs, to head a panel of health professionals which will lead the "listening exercise". 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."
Greater 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.
But he insisted there was support for the basic principles of the reforms - putting patients and GPs in charge, reducing bureancracy and giving greater freedoms to hospitals.
The government has also enlisted Professor Steve Field, the former chairman of the Royal College of GPs, to head a panel of health professionals which will take part 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.
On Monday, Mr Lansley told the House of Commons he wanted to engage with people about the changes before the bill underpinning the reforms returns to Parliament in late spring. The government took the step of launching the "listening exercise" after Mr Lansley accepted in the House of Commons on Monday that there were genuine concerns.
The government has already acknowledged it is willing to make amendments. 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.
But ministers - particularly at the Department of Health - still believe some of the reforms are being misunderstood. Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Lansley said the two-month exercise was a "genuine opportunity to shape the future of the health service".
During the next few months they will seek to convince people that the programme does not amount to the privatisation of the health service that some have claimed. The move has come after the government has already said it would make some changes to the plans.
In particular, they will stress that the April 2013 deadline is not an absolute cut-off. 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.
Instead, the national board, which will be headed by NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson, will have powers to take control of local services where GP consortia are judged to be not up to scratch. 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.
Mr Cameron said on Wednesday: "I'm in politics not to take risks with the NHS but to safeguard and improve the NHS for today and future generations. Instead, GP consortia that are not ready will be given support by a national board, led by NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson.
"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." 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.
One option being seriously considered is the idea of inviting other experts to get involved in the consortia.
This was proposed by the House of Commons' health committee on Tuesday.
'PR stunt' criticism
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.
But the listening exercise has been criticised by Labour. 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 on the changes and during debates in Parliament.
Shadow health secretary John Healey said: "The test now is whether David Cameron will recognise the very wide concerns and respond with radical surgery to the health bill."
But he added that he remained doubtful, suggesting that the government had failed to listen during the official consultation on the changes 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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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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    • My wife is a senior nurse at one of the NHS's (indeed the World's) best Hospitals.In common with Her senior Medical Counterparts and associated clinical specialists were dismayed that Budget for Hospital based care should be purely at the whim of GP's.Most GP's frankly become so for financial reasons (it pays on average 100% more than being a Hospital based Doctor).This must change.My wife is a senior nurse at one of the NHS's (indeed the World's) best Hospitals.In common with Her senior Medical Counterparts and associated clinical specialists were dismayed that Budget for Hospital based care should be purely at the whim of GP's.Most GP's frankly become so for financial reasons (it pays on average 100% more than being a Hospital based Doctor).This must change.
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