Key elements of controversial NHS reforms put on hold as DH launches ‘listening exercise’
Published: 18-Apr-2011
THE planned timetable for the controversial NHS reforms has slipped because of the Government’s decision to put the proposals on hold while it embarks on a ‘listening exercise’.
A letter from NHS chief executive, Sir David Nicholson, sent to all chief executives and GP commissioning consortia pathfinder leads last week admits that some dates for change have had to be amended.
The Department of Health launched its listening exercise earlier this month, putting the Health and Social Care Bill on hold before it continues through Parliament in the summer. The aim is to listen to concerns over the reforms outlined in the document and to amend it.
Sir David’s letter deals with the ‘transition’ period the NHS currently finds itself in.
We are working through the full implications of the changes on a case-by-case basis and will provide advice in due course on any further developments
For planning purposes, and subject to the results of the listening exercise and the passage of the bill, the proposed timeline for completing key elements of the transition at local level remains unchanged, he wrote.
That means that GP consortia will take control of commissioning from April 2013 following authorisation by the NHS Commissioning Board. Health and wellbeing boards would also take on their full statutory powers and PCTs would be abolished by April 2013.
However, Sir David said that, because of the pause in the legislative process and the listening exercise, all of the statutory changes that were due to take place in April 2012 will now be delayed by three months and will happen no earlier than July 2012. These include the abolition of strategic health authorities and the NHS Commissioning Board assuming its full statutory powers. The first phase of giving economic regulator Monitor its new powers will also be delayed as will the timeframe for implementing HealthWatch England and giving full powers to the NHS Trust Development Authority, Health Education England and Public Health England. In addition, the creation of shadow bodies and the appointment of senior staff to these organisations will also take place later than expected to allow time for the engagement process to take place
It is important that we continue to support our staff through what will no doubt be a difficult and uncertain period for many
“These changes are of course very significant for the organisations concerned and their staff,” Sir David said. “We are working through the full implications of the changes on a case-by-case basis and will provide advice in due course on any further developments.
“In the meantime it is important that we continue to support our staff through what will no doubt be a difficult and uncertain period for many.
He added: “The scale and breadth of what we need to deliver over the coming period remains as challenging as ever.”
