Ahead of the Second Reading of the Health and Care Bill in the
House of Commons on Wednesday 14thJuly, the deputy
chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:
"We welcome the Second Reading of the Health and Care Bill today,
which sets out the biggest reforms to the NHS in nearly a decade.
“Trusts have been at the vanguard of efforts to create closer
collaboration and to support integration between health and care.
This Bill will put those foundations on a firmer footing,
enabling trusts and their partners to work better together as
they seek to build healthier communities.
“Trust leaders broadly welcome the direction of the Bill, but
there are several outstanding areas of concern where we are
asking MPs and Peers to seek clarity, reassurances and safeguards
as the Bill progresses through parliament.
"First, we are asking parliamentarians to examine plans to give
ministers sweeping new powers of direction on issues including
the operational and clinical independence of the NHS as well as
over processes such as procurement, treatment, drug funding and
the hiring and firing of frontline NHS leaders.
"We are also urging MPs to scrutinise proposals to give ministers
greater powers in decisions over how local services are
configured. We are keen to ensure that changes which improve
quality and safety are not inappropriately blocked or subject to
undue political pressure or interference.
"It’s also important that new integrated care systems are
developed in response to local needs, rather than a cookie cutter
or one-size-fits all approach.
"And we are continuing to call for a careful balance in how new
potential controls on capital spending may be applied to
foundation trusts in local systems. We want to avoid a situation
where trusts are being told to limit their spending on new
equipment and buildings, risking quality of care.
“It's also vital this Bill also addresses the longstanding lack
of a transparent, costed and funded long term workforce plan.
"Today is the first major step in what will be an incredibly
complex process of scrutinising a major piece of health
legislation. But we look forward to working with parliamentarians
and the government as this Bill progresses through parliament to
ensure the views of frontline trusts are fully represented”.
Ends
Notes to editors
- A link to NHS Providers’ Second Reading briefing for the
Health and Care Bill can be found here
