Health secretary Alan Johnson has pledged to put primary care at the centre of the government drive to improve the UK's health.
In his first major public speech as health secretary, Mr Johnson promised to focus on inequalities.
'Inequalities in health mirror wider injustices in society. But we could and should be doing much more as a department to tackle them,' he told an invited audience at a New Health Network event.
'We must ensure tackling health inequalities is fully integrated into commissioning and the operational framework,' he said.
'The prime minister and I will put improvements to primary care at the forefront of our quest to improve the health of the whole nation,' said Mr Johnson.
Prime minister Gordon Brown has already made it clear that improving access to primary care would be a priority. Primary care trusts have been instructed by Department of Health director general of commissioning Mark Britnell to produce plans this month on how they will make it easier for patients to access services.
Mr Johnson said: 'The local GP practice is the principal gateway to the NHS so if the quantity, the quality and accessibility of GP services are uneven it's no wonder that health inequalities are prevalent.'
He said doctors' surgeries must be open 'at times that suit the patients rather than the practice'.
Mr Johnson said the DoH would publish a strategy document next year for 'a bold new work programme' on access and prevention.
He would also begin publishing data on life expectancy at ward level, rather than across a local authority, so that people could see the worst pockets of health outcomes.
'Public health issues must be elevated to the top of the national agenda by a DoH which takes an even more active role in encouraging active lifestyles,' he said.
Mr Johnson singled out alcohol as a problem area that he would focus on over the next few months.
No comments yet