"Hospitals are to be moved out of the NHS to create a "vibrant" industry of
social enterprises under the proposals.
And, as expected, GPs are to take charge of much of the budget.
The move will lead to the abolition of all 10 strategic health authorities
and the 152 management bodies known as primary care trusts.
THE KEY CHANGES
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GPs
- Asked to get together in groups to take on
responsibility for spending much of the NHS budget
Hospitals
- Encouraged to move outside the NHS to become
"vibrant" industry of social enterprises
Patients
- More information and choice, including ability
to register with any GP they want to
Managers
- Strategic health authorities and primary care
trusts face the axe
The new structure will be held accountable by an independent NHS board which
would be free from political interference, the government said.
Meanwhile, responsibility for public health will be passed to local
authorities.
In many ways, the plans outlined in a White Paper go further than expected.
The coalition agreement had promised no top-down reorganisations.
But Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said he had decided to go further than
first envisaged to rid the health service of "unnecessary" bureaucracy.
He said the proposals would be challenging and turn the NHS "upside down" but
in doing so help reduce management costs by nearly a half within four years.
He added: "The government's ambition is for health outcomes - and quality
services - that are among the best in the world."
'Experiment'
The GP move had long been championed by Mr Lansley - and in recent months the
British Medical Association had indicated it was willing to work with him on the
idea.
The plans mean GPs working in groups will be in charge of a vast collection
of hospital, mental health and community services - although specialist services
and dentistry will not fall under their remit.
ANALYSIS
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