Queen's speech: government to make Darzi review law
The government will legislate to take forward the proposals in health minister Lord Darzi's next stage review, it was confirmed in the Queen's speech today.
The NHS bill will create a duty to take account of the rights and responsibilities set out in the NHS constitution, which will be published alongside the legislation.
It will also require providers to publish annual quality accounts, similar to financial accounts, on the quality of their services.
The bill will lay the way for patients to be given individual budgets to commission their own health services, and will include measures to reduce smoking harm to young people
It is not specified whether this will include previous proposals of banning displays of cigarettes in shops, however.
The government's programme is dominated by measures to address the economic downturn.
Improving the nation's health
The Queen said: "Because the health of the nation is vital to its success and well-being, a bill will be brought forward to strengthen the National Health Service.
"The bill would create a duty to take account of the new National Health Service constitution that will set out the core principles of the service and the rights and responsibilities of patients and staff.
"The bill would also introduce measures to improve the quality of healthcare and public health."
The speech also confirmed proposals, to be included in a police and crime bill, to tighten controls on the sale of alcohol.
Personalised care
The NHS Confederation welcomed proposals on the constitution and personal budgets.
Policy director Nigel Edwards said: "The final test of the constitution will be how it is used to enable choice and helps drive the move towards more personalised care.
"It is important to stress that leaders in the NHS know the economy is in a downturn and that things will be getting tougher in public services.
"The NHS constitution provides the framework for the debate that will have to take place about the difficult choices which will have to be made in the coming years."
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Readers' comments (2)
Dermot Ryan | 3-Dec-2008 2:42 pm
This will be an unmitigated disater surpassing all the ill thought out health care deforms already imposed on a near terminal NHS.
On a brighter note, the increased litigation which will accompany the new laws will mean a bright financial future for the lawyers ( many of whom are MP's)
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Valerie Liddiard | 3-Dec-2008 5:48 pm
Please, please, please lets remember it is a national health system we need to sort out and address not a national health service. The commissioning driven process will only work if we are adult and honest about the limitations and constraints of the national health service - unless they are factored into a wider national system which recognises all the component parts to achieving a healthy society it will be more rhetoric and wasted opportunity. Stop micro managing and tinkering around the edges - devolve, delegate and most of all engage business more proactively as a necessary part of the healthy nation supply chain. Commercial businesses have commissioned and provided for years give them a greater role through employee engagement programmes with tax breaks for health improvement it could build better responses from primary and secondary care in terms of access and delivery.
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