Responding to the publication of the Health and Care Bill, the
chief executive of NHS Providers, said:
“We welcome the publication of this Bill today which will help
provide clarity for trusts in a fast changing health and care
landscape.
“Trusts have been at the forefront of the move towards closer
collaboration and integration between health and care, a process
that has accelerated in recent months to deal with the
extraordinary pressures of the pandemic.
“The forthcoming legislation will formalise this process, so
trusts and their partners can plan and cooperate more closely to
help build healthier communities.
“We therefore think there is a lot to build on in the
government’s proposals, which herald the biggest reforms to the
NHS in more than a decade.
“However we have been clear about key areas of concern for
our members, which will need to be resolved as the Bill goes
through parliament.
“It is very important to preserve the operational and clinical
independence of the NHS so any new powers of direction for
ministers do not impinge on issues such as procurement,
treatment, drug funding and the hiring and firing of frontline
NHS leaders.
“It’s also important to ensure ministers have appropriate powers
in decisions over how local services are configured and that
changes which improve quality and safety are not inappropriately
blocked.
“There is no suggestion here that a publicly funded service like
the NHS should not be held to account. Rather, that the strategic
direction is the domain of politicians, who should then allow NHS
leaders in operational and clinical roles - with day to day
responsibility for supporting patient care - the space to deliver
those strategic objectives without undue political pressure or
interference.
“The new integrated care systems (ICSs) should develop to meet
local needs, rather than being pushed into a one-size-fits-all
approach.
“We are continuing to argue for a careful balance in how new
potential controls on capital spending may be applied to
foundation trusts in local systems.
“And it’s vital that the legislation addresses the lack of a
transparent, costed and funded long term workforce plan.
“We urge the government to continue to listen to the NHS
frontline in shaping its proposals.”
