Press release: NHS Confederation responds to Audit Commission report on engaging clinicians in financial management

03 Dec 2007

Commenting on the report, NHS Confederation Director of Policy Nigel Edwards said:

"We welcome the findings of this report. Improving efficiency and ensuring that money is spent effectively is only possible with a high level of clinical advice. Most of the money spent in the health service, after salaries, is the direct or indirect result of decisions taken by clinicians; it is essential that they are closely involved in the process of allocating resources.

"Increasingly, clinicians are willing to take full responsibility for the management of budgets. The high level of commitment and dedication among NHS doctors should be harnessed to further enhance care for patients."

Notes for editors

The NHS Confederation and the Joint Medical Consultative Council (JMCC) - two bodies representing managers and clinicians - have published a paper for a clinical vision of a reformed NHS.

The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

Download A clinical vision of a reformed NHS (PDF)

Contact details

Contact Niall Smith 020 7074 3304 or 07767 770309, Ruth Kennedy 020 7074 3312 or 07884 47 3086, or Ruby Casey-Knight 020 7074 3306 or 07881 957305. For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.

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