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Press release: Private/public debate missing the point says NHS Confederation

21 Jun 2001

The current debate about the role of the private sector in improving public services is missing the point, said the NHS Confederation commenting on the forthcoming launch of the IPPR report on public private partnerships.

Stephen Thornton, chief executive of the NHS Confederation said: "There may well be some specific areas where the use of the private sector would add real value to the NHS. But, what is critical is that the government ensures a set of conditions which enable either public or private management to flourish in the NHS. These conditions have not existed in the past. However, the government has now indicated that it intends to create the right conditions - the test will be if it follows through*. NHS management can compete with the best but the starting point should be the right conditions and a level playing field."

The four key conditions required for management to deliver are:

1. Management is given the freedom to manage - as Secretary of State for Health Alan Milburn has said the NHS cannot be run from Whitehall, local health services must be given greater control. 
2. Management is allowed to take risks - to become Mr Milburn's cadre of "public sector entrepreneurs." 
3. Government sets a limited number of key deliverables rather than swamping management with targets. 
4. Government sees investment in management as investment in reform and continues to challenge misleading debate about cutting bureaucracy.

Stephen Thornton continued: "There are no quick fixes for improving the NHS. Simply bringing in private sector management will not solve the problems of the NHS - in fact you could get the worst of all worlds. If the conditions are not right, private sector management will behave as public sector management has been forced to. Creating the right environment, not focusing on where the people come from is what is important. It is time to improve the quality of the debate on this issue."

-ends -

Notes for editors

*Secretary of State for Health's speech at the launch of the Modernisation Agency 'Shifting the Balance of Power in the NHS" and to the British Association of Medical Managers on 13th June.

1. The NHS Confederation is the voice of NHS management. Our members include the majority of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts and health authorities in Wales; trusts and health boards in Scotland; and health and social services trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
   

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