Key points
In a statement to Parliament, Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, set out the five key priority areas in the framework document:
- Healthcare associated infections
- Access to care and the 18-week target
- Reducing health inequalities
- Improving patient experience
- Readiness for a state of emergency such as pandemic influenza.
See the Department of Health website for more information and read our briefing for members which sets out the key points.
Confederation viewpoint
NHS Confederation chief executive, Steve Barnett, said: "The NHS has turned around its finances and is in a strong position to meet the challenge of an economic downturn. The task ahead of us now is to deliver better quality services for patients.
'The operating framework sets out a wide-ranging programme of work but, given the progress the NHS has made, we are pleased that the department of health has taken a consistent approach that adds no substantial new targets to the operating framework.
'NHS organisations must deliver services that reflect these national priorities but in order to deliver high quality, personalised care, local NHS organisations will at the same time have to work extremely hard to tailor services to local needs.'