BBC News | HEALTH | Milburn reveals NHS reform plans

Decisions on hospital closures and bed reductions are to be taken by an independent panel of doctors, nurses, patients' representatives and NHS managers.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn told the annual conference of the NHS Confederation in Glasgow on Friday the change would be included in next month's National Plan for the NHS.

He said the aim was to give those who used and worked in the NHS more power to decide what facilities should be available within the service, and to take politics out of the decision process.

Mr Milburn also revealed that the National Plan will propose a "traffic light" system of ratings for NHS organisations.

Alan Milburn wants to take politics out of NHS provision

Each organisation will be rated green, amber or red.

High performing green-rated units will be given extra resources, and greater autonomy over how they are spent.

Red-rated failing units will be given expert advice and support to help them improve - and if necessary "hit squads" will be sent in to impose change.

Stephen Thornton, NHS Confederation chief executive, said: "It will be music to management's ears to hear Milburn say that it is not his job to manage the NHS.

"Managers tell us that what motivates them is the freedom to manoeuvre and make decisions locally. This is probably the most cherished of all the incentives."

Mr Milburn also announced:

�60 million to ensure every GP practice and hospital was connected online via NHS Net by March 2002
a six-month maximum waiting time from referral to surgery for cataract patients in 60 areas of the country

Mr Milburn said: "We need shorter waiting times not just for certain conditions but for all conditions.

"That means a shorter guaranteed `back stop' within which all patients are treated according to their clinical need."

Maximum waits

A guaranteed maximum wait of 18 months for hospital treatment was no longer acceptable, and efforts must now focus on cutting waiting times, especially for cancer and heart disease patients, he said.

Mr Milburn said in "all but exceptional circumstances" the health secretary would be expected to accept the recommendations of the new independent panel.

He said: "My concern is that the current system for deciding NHS reorganisations, hospital closures and hospital openings is often seen as insensitive, opaque and not sufficiently independent.

"Too many decisions end up being made in Whitehall."

It is expected that the panel would be made up of one-third doctors and nurses, one-third patients' and citizens' representatives and one-third managers.

Never before has the NHS been in the hands of such incompetent and directionless political control

Dr Liam Fox, Shadow Heath Secretary

Shadow Health Secretary Dr. Liam Fox said: "Alan Milburn's remarks are typical of a Health Secretary who will give any soundbite on any occasion to please any audience.

"Just like his phoney consultation with the public on the NHS, this smacks of another case when the Secretary of State has no idea about how to run the NHS, and instead latches on to the latest suggestion he has heard.

"Never before has the NHS been in the hands of such incompetent and directionless political control."

Online developments

The big expansion of online services could have profound implications for the NHS.

Using the NHS's secure computer network, GPs will be able to receive diagnostic test results online as soon as they are processed by the laboratory, cutting out days of delay whilst test results are posted.

With the advent of on-line booking, GPs will eventually be able to access results and book out-patient appointments while the patient is still at the practice, allowing them to check in advance that appointments are convenient for patients.

Pilot projects are to be set up to allow GPs to send prescriptions electronically to their local pharmacy, so that patients will no longer have to visit their surgery to pick up a repeat prescription.


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