Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Saving our NHS
CONFERENCE BACKS RADICAL PLANS FOR THE HEALTH SERVICE
Conference backed plans to radically transform the NHS into a ‘people’s health service’ through empowering individuals and decentralising control to local communities. Shadow Health Secretary Norman Lamb called the result “a very significant vote” for the party. Two amendments were passed to the original motion. One means that local Health Boards (which would replace primary care trusts) would comprise two-thirds directly elected members, and one-third local authority councillors (from social care authorities). The other set criteria for the use of PFI and other private sector procurement by the NHS. [BBC] [Motion and Release] [Policy Paper]
Plans contained in the health policy paper include
· Guaranteeing every citizen access to a high standard of core healthcare entitlements within maximum waiting times in a ‘Patient’s Contract’. To make sure that the NHS delivers, patients would have the right to receive private treatment, paid for by the NHS, if the waiting time was not met.
· Introducing a ‘Care Guarantee’ by spending £2 billion on personal care payments for all elderly people requiring care, based on need and not their ability to pay.
· Directly electing the majority of members of local Health Boards instead of unaccountable Primary Care Trusts, putting people in charge of decisions about their local health services.
· Rolling out the use of direct payments and individual budgets for people with chronic, long-term conditions and mental health services.
Conference backed plans to radically transform the NHS into a ‘people’s health service’ through empowering individuals and decentralising control to local communities. Shadow Health Secretary Norman Lamb called the result “a very significant vote” for the party. Two amendments were passed to the original motion. One means that local Health Boards (which would replace primary care trusts) would comprise two-thirds directly elected members, and one-third local authority councillors (from social care authorities). The other set criteria for the use of PFI and other private sector procurement by the NHS. [BBC] [Motion and Release] [Policy Paper]
Plans contained in the health policy paper include
· Guaranteeing every citizen access to a high standard of core healthcare entitlements within maximum waiting times in a ‘Patient’s Contract’. To make sure that the NHS delivers, patients would have the right to receive private treatment, paid for by the NHS, if the waiting time was not met.
· Introducing a ‘Care Guarantee’ by spending £2 billion on personal care payments for all elderly people requiring care, based on need and not their ability to pay.
· Directly electing the majority of members of local Health Boards instead of unaccountable Primary Care Trusts, putting people in charge of decisions about their local health services.
· Rolling out the use of direct payments and individual budgets for people with chronic, long-term conditions and mental health services.
# posted by John Beanse @ 8:34 AM 
