Summary
In an attempt to focus on patient outcomes and meet fiscal savings targets the Government intends to reform the National Health Service (NHS) by localising decision-making.
The Public Accounts Committee comments on proposals outlined in the Health and Social Care Bill in 'National Health Service Landscape Review’ (HC 764) by examining the Bill’s value for money risks and implications.
The new model proposed in the Bill intends to transform the NHS in England into a highly devolved, market-based model in which local commissioners and providers of health services are freed from central control, with an increased say for local authorities, patients and the public.
However, whilst the reforms could complement the imperative of achieving £20 billion efficiency gains by 2014/15, the reorganisation presents an additional challenge for the NHS.
The health reforms are still at an early stage and key questions have yet to be addressed. It is vital that the Department creates robust accountability structures so that Parliament and the public can properly follow the taxpayers' pound and hold those responsible to account.
The Committee is concerned that the Department has not yet developed a high quality risk management protocol for either the commissioning or providing bodies. The Department acknowledges that some health trusts and some GP practices have some way to go to achieve foundation trust status or become commissioning consortia. The Department must have effective systems in place to deal with failure so that whatever happens, the interests of both patients and taxpayers are protected.
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