A new NHS Reform Bill to help deliver improved, more personalised care for millions of patients, was included in the Government's draft legislative programme, published today.
The Bill will take forward any proposals arising from the NHS Next Stage Review that will require primary legislation to implement. Lord Darzi's final report, published in the summer, will set out how the Government will support clinicians to transform the quality of care locally, including:
* Publishing an NHS Constitution setting out the rights and responsibilities of staff and patients to strengthen and sustain the NHS;
* Enabling and encouraging Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to be more responsive to their local communities including strengthening public involvement in PCTs commissioning arrangements; and,
* Giving greater scope for patients to shape the care they receive including having greater control over the management of their care.
Since the Review began there has been extensive consultation. 60,000 NHS and social care staff, patients, users, carers and members of the public have participated directly in the process. Almost 2,000 frontline clinicians and other staff working in health and social care organisations have led local working groups across eight pathways of care involving discussions with thousands of patients, members of the public and other NHS staff.
Secretary of State Alan Johnson, said:
"This is a momentous year for the NHS. The 60th anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the huge improvements in healthcare over the past sixty years while the Next Stage Review will provide a vision for the future - a health service ready to meet the challenges of the next decade, led by clinicians and patients, not driven from Whitehall.
"This week NHS local health authorities have started publishing their visions for providing the best quality care for patients in their communities. Every proposal that is emerging is the result of what local clinicians, NHS staff and patients have determined is needed across every aspect of healthcare, based on the best clinical evidence.
"The final report will then respond to the challenges set by clinicians in each region and ensure that together we can make world-class quality of care a reality for everyone."
The Next Stage Review builds on the significant improvements in patient care and health services over the last ten years. Waiting lists are at their lowest ever, 50,000 more lives have been saved from better cancer services and over 100 new hospitals have improved access to healthcare for millions of people.
