Press release: NHS Confederation welcomes focus on health in the Queen's Speech

17 May 2005

The NHS Confederation today welcomed the focus on health in the Queen's Speech. Commenting on the three major health Bills, Dame Gill Morgan, NHS Confederation Chief Executive said:

'The Government's continued focus on the battle to beat MRSA has got to be right. We look forward to hearing more about the hospital hygiene proposals because, as ever, the devil will be in the detail. 

'Three points for the Government to consider. First, MRSA is out in the community, brought into hospitals by millions of patients and visitors every year. Pinning blame on one individual would be virtually impossible. 

Second, hygiene codes must be based on proven good practice like hand-washing and barrier-nursing rather than a one-size-fits all approach. The causes of MRSA are complex and no single activity can eradicate it. Managers, doctors, nurses and patients need to work together on this one.

'Third, can we please stop assuming that managers are hovering in the shadows stopping professionals from doing their jobs. NHS managers go into the job because they want to make a difference to patients. Let's stop giving them such a hard time'.

The Confederation also welcomed the new Mental Health Bill. Dame Gill Morgan said:

'Mental health legislation is in urgent need of reform. There were serious problems with the draft bill that hadn't been thought through. We hope the new Bill will take into account the concerns raised by the pre-legislative scrutiny committee and that that the Government will work with the Mental Health Alliance and others to ensure we get it right this time.

And commenting on the smoking legislation, Dame Gill said:

'The Government has been brave in introducing this legislation and we thoroughly support them. 106,000 people die every year from smoking related diseases, 700 of whom are passive smokers. So there's a long way to go before we can fight the disease and meeting the wider government targets on health inequalities will take time, and crucially, resources. This legislation should be the beginning of the debate, not the end'.
Plans to reform the NHS compensation process were initially announced by Alan Milburn and the Confederation today welcomes its fruition into the legislative timetable. Dame Gill said:

'We welcome anything that makes the cumbersome compensation process more effective. Where patients deserve compensation, they should get it quicker and more efficiently. We will work with our members to ensure that the legislation will be workable for patients on the ground.'

Ends

Notes for editors

1. The NHS Confederation represents more than 90% of the organisations that make up the NHS throughout the UK. Its members include the majority of NHS trusts, foundation trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; NHS boards and special boards in Scotland; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

Contact details

Contact Head of Public Affairs Sarah Jones on 020 7074 3300.

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