The end of the National Health Service

Earlier this year, the National Health Service in England was abolished in its previous form and replaced by a commissioning system. Following the Health and Social Care Act, the secretary of state for health gave up direct responsibility for the provision of the nation's health services, passing these over to a commissioning board.1 Primary care trusts—the public bodies that formerly provided some health care directly and commissioned the rest—also went. In their place, the government set up local clinical commissioning groups, subject to regulations compelling them to put most if not all service provision out for competitive tender. In the few months since the legislation came into force, the large majority of tenders have in fact been awarded to private companies. Although the term National Health Service and the NHS brand continue to be used, a National Health Commissioning System or NHCS is in fact a...
Source: Postgraduate Medical Journal - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: On reflection Source Type: research