An email to all NHS staff from The Rt Hon Andrew Lansley CBE MP, Secretary of State for Health

NHS White Paper: ‘Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS’ Gateway reference: 14541

Dear colleague Over the last six and a half years, I've met NHS staff in hundreds of hospitals, surgeries and clinics. I have seen how enthusiastic you are for the work you do. Too often, however, you have told me how frustrated you are by bureaucracy and tick-box targets that get in the way.  No-one wants upheaval in the NHS. But no-one believes things can stay as they are. Today, I am setting out a strategy for the NHS which will create stability for the long-term. It will let you focus on your patients, on how to deliver high quality care, and on the results you achieve. For those responsible for services for patients, it means much more control of what you do. And it means cutting back on unnecessary administration, targets and bureaucracy. We know we have to do this, to use money better to meet continually increasing demands on our NHS.  I know phasing out PCTs and SHAs is a big step, but in reality I can't give more control and responsibility to those closest to patients - General Practice, community services, hospitals – without cutting back the tiers of management. The objective is straightforward. Those responsible for caring for patients should have more control of resources. Patients should share in decisions about their care. Doctors and nurses should lead the delivery of care and be accountable for the quality of care. Management should support this, not override it. Nationally, we in Government should focus on what we aim to achieve, not try to tell you how to do it. And the "what" is simple: health outcomes that are among the best in the world. I do hope you will read the White Paper, "Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS", and that you will engage in the consultation. The White Paper and supporting material can be found at www.dh.gov.uk/liberatingthenhs  

ANDREW LANSLEY CBE

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HEALTH 

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