Press release: NHS Confederation comments on next stage review guidance
09 May 2008
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Commenting on Lord Darzi's pledges for changes in the NHS, Nigel Edwards, policy director of the NHS Confederation, which represents 95 percent of NHS organisations, said:
"We recognise there is a significant problem that the public often does not believe changes in the NHS are being made for their benefit. The lesson is the NHS needs to do more to fully engage clinicians, other staff, the patients and the public, local government and politicians, and other interested parties.
"Therefore, this new guidance is very welcome in sharing good practice and helping reassure the public and other about what they can expect.
"However, we need to recognise that the substantial challenges around service change on the ground will not be overcome by clear guidance alone. For example, the clinical evidence base is not straightforward and although the clinical case must be clear, the NHS needs to take into account value-for-money to ensure that the needs of the whole population are best met, which requires trade-offs.
"If existing services are to remain open until new services are established, NHS organisations will need to use surpluses to allow for double-running costs. The NHS also needs to improve its planning and modelling skills.
"We believe the guidance needs to give more emphasis to engagement of all staff and planning the workforce changes necessary as part of service change."
Further information on the Darzi review
ENDS
Notes for editors
- 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.
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.