Refreshed mandate 'less like political shopping list'

The final refreshed mandate document is attached. It follows a consultation by the Department of Health, begun in July, on proposed changes. NHS England said there were too many new requirements, which were too specific and process-focused.

It appears a number of proposed commitments have been removed or watered down, in relation to a previously announced objective of reducing premature death, charges to overseas visitors, commitments to make the NHS “paperless”, and the development of genomics.

Senior NHS England sources said they believed the DH had removed most of the additional commitments which it was concerned about.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a statement to the Commons today: “The government has kept changes to an essential minimum to ensure the refreshed mandate remains strategic, outcomes-focused and affordable within NHS England’s budget which is also set out in the mandate for 2014-15.  

“Where the government has introduced changes, these focus on the priorities that will support the successful transformation of health and care services to meet the needs of an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of long-term physical and mental health conditions.”

He said its three areas of focus included “the vulnerable older people’s plan”, which is under development by the DH, though it will be subject to its affordability being agreed. Another is “the addition of one new objective in relation to the system wide response to the Francis inquiry recommendations”, and “taking forward actions to deliver a service that values mental and physical health equally”.

Mike Birtwistle, founding partner at consultancy Incisive Health, said: “NHS England will be pretty happy with this and I imagine politicians less so. The final mandate reads much less like a political shopping list. I would say this one is 4-1 to NHS England.”