Rethink: Leading health charities bring Andrew Lansley face-to-face with patients

Rethink: Leading health charities bring Andrew Lansley face-to-face with patients

Rethink: Leading health charities bring Andrew Lansley face-to-face with patients

The UKs leading health charities will bring Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and Health Minister Paul Burstow face-to-face with patients today (Thursday 19 May) giving them the opportunity to have their say over NHS reform.

The listening event, organised by the charity Rethink Mental Illness in partnership with ten other leading health charities, is part of the newly established NHS Future Forum who are overseeing the listening exercise. It will give patient representatives from all the major health charities an opportunity to speak directly to ministers about their views on planned changes to the NHS.

Over 100 patients, who have personal experience of a wide range of health conditions such as cancer, asthma, diabetes and mental illness, are expected to take part. The charities are campaigning together in order to push for changes to the Health and Social Care Bill which will ensure patients will have a real voice in the new NHS.

Victoria Bleazard, head of campaigns and policy for Rethink Mental Illness says: “The government says they want to strengthen patient and public involvement, but the detail of the Bill doesn’t guarantee that it can deliver on this promise. We want to make sure the NHS is answerable to everyone it serves, with patient involvement and democratic accountability enshrined at its heart.

“We’re delighted Andrew Lansley has taken up our offer to come and hear directly from patients today, but the real test will be whether he takes action and makes real changes to the Bill based on what he’s heard.”

ENDS

The event is being held in central London. If you would like to attend or set up an interview in advance, please contact Rachel Whitehead, Senior Media Relations Officer at Rethink Mental Illness on 0207 840 3138 rachel.whitehead@rethink.org The charities are: Rethink Mental Illness, Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Asthma UK, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Diabetes UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, National Voices, The British Heart Foundation, The Neurological Alliance and The Stroke Association.

Rachel Whitehead
Senior Media Relations Officer
020 7840 3138

Working together to help everyone affected by
severe mental illness recover a better quality of life.

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