Royal College of Physicians statement on DH White Paper ‘Liberating the NHS’
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians said:
‘The plans set out in the White Paper represent a welcome shift towards a greater focus on measuring health services on grounds of quality and outcomes rather than on activity and process targets.
We are particularly pleased that the crucial role of national clinical audit will be strengthened and that GPs will again be able to refer patients to individual hospital specialists in line with the patient’s wishes
Nonetheless the task of putting into place measures that are genuinely useful to patients and clinicians should not be underestimated. It is essential that commissioning groups work collaboratively with specialists to develop integrated care pathways and that any shift in clinical priorities is carefully considered to ensure that the desired outcome is not overshadowed by unintended consequences.
Delivering public health should be the responsibility of all health professionals and the drive to address the wider determinants of health to enable positive behaviour change are encouraging.
The vision for the NHS outlined today offers a real opportunity for forging positive clinical engagement but this can only be fully achieved by ensuring that policy is underpinned by clear, practical and evidence-based systems.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
* For further information, please contact RCP PR Manager Linda Cuthbertson on 0203 075 1254 or e-mail Linda.Cuthbertson@rcplondon.ac.uk
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