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Hewitt to address NHS plan fears NHS hospital structure 'outdated'
(1 day later)
The health secretary is to try to allay fears over the future of major hospitals in a speech. The traditional model of hospital care needs to be changed to provide the best care, the health secretary says.
Patricia Hewitt will say the district general hospital model, providing a wide range of care under one roof, may not be right for the 21st Century. Patricia Hewitt said the district general hospital model, providing a wide range of care under one roof, was not right for the 21st Century.
But she will say the redesigned NHS - with emergency care centralised in fewer hospitals - will still retain the values of the old health service. Last week new NHS boss David Nicholson said emergency care was to be centralised in fewer hospitals.
It comes amid growing unease about the potential closure of hospitals. But Ms Hewitt said the redesigned NHS would retain the values of the old health service in a speech in London.
There is growing unease about the potential closure of hospitals after Mr Nicholson, the chief executive of the NHS, said there would be about 60 reviews of hospitals, in his first interview since taking up the post at the beginning of September.
Government policy includes shifting care away from hospitals into community settings and placing greater emphasis on the private sector.Government policy includes shifting care away from hospitals into community settings and placing greater emphasis on the private sector.
Doctors have had enough of this meddling Dr Barry Monk Doctor fights cuts State of the NHS
Doctors' leaders have warned that if services such as A&E, cardiac care and paediatrics are taken away from hospitals, the remaining services such as planned surgery and intermediate care could be eventually whittled away.Doctors' leaders have warned that if services such as A&E, cardiac care and paediatrics are taken away from hospitals, the remaining services such as planned surgery and intermediate care could be eventually whittled away.
Doctors have had enough of this meddling Dr Barry Monk href="/1/hi/health/5357200.stm" class="">Swapping patients for Parliament Ms Hewitt told the audience of health professionals and campaigners that if the public wanted care to improve and waiting lists to carry on falling they would have accept that the structure of the NHS would change.
Reviews are taking place across England and the new NHS chief executive David Nicholson said, in his first interview last week, as many as 60 changes - dubbed "reconfigurations" - could end up being carried out. This could mean patients having to travel further for emergency care but, once they got there, it would be better and more expert than they would have got at their traditional hospital, she said.
Ms Hewitt will tell an audience in London that if the public want care to improve and waiting lists to carry on falling they will have accept that the structure of the NHS will change. But she attempted to reassure critics that the "values of the NHS will never change" as it would always be free at the point of need.
This could mean patients may have to travel further for emergency care, but once they get there it will be better and more expert than they would get at their traditional hospital, she will say. 'No artificial limits'
But she will attempt to reassure critics that the "values of the NHS will never change" as it will always be free at the point of need. Ms Hewitt said: "The structures that were right in the 1960s - when the model of the modern district general hospital were defined and planned - are not right today."
The future Labour are trying to cover up for their failures in the name of reform Andrew LansleyShadow Health Secretary href="/1/hi/health/5359132.stm" class="">Q&A: The future of hospitals
Doctors have expressed mixed views to news of future changes. Ahead of the speech, she said: "What the NHS is doing is taking a lot of the care available only in acute hospitals and taking it into patients' homes."
She also said there would be no "artificial limits" on the role of the private sector in this new vision for the health service.
"We are not privatising or marketising the NHS. The NHS has always used the private sector - the great majority of GPs have always been private businesses depending on profits from their own practice."
However, the government is facing a battle to convince staff and the public that the measures are justified.
Frances Blunden, principal policy adviser at campaign group Which?, said: "While we can't argue with the rationale behind creating hi-tech regional trauma centres, there is a real concern about where most people's urgent care needs will be met in this new structure."
Unison head of health Karen Jennings said: "Patricia has not spent her life in health or health policy, but all of the trade unions in health - all of the affiliates, all of the non-affiliates, Unison, the BMA, the Royal Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery - are all saying this is wrong."
'Vulnerable to closure'
The British Medical Association has said it accepts that advances in technology mean the most up-to-date care can only be provided in fewer hospitals.The British Medical Association has said it accepts that advances in technology mean the most up-to-date care can only be provided in fewer hospitals.
However, chairman James Johnson has warned that taking services away from some risks making them vulnerable to closure in the future. HAVE YOUR SAY There is little left of the old health service Bernie Matthews, Blackwood href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=3891&edition=1&ttl=20060919112838" class="">Send us your comments But BMA chairman James Johnson has warned that taking services away from some risks making them vulnerable to closure in the future.
And Dr Barry Monk, a Bedfordshire doctor who is threatening to stand for parliament over potential cuts to services, said: "Doctors have had enough of this meddling. I would urge others to follow my lead and oppose the changes." Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Labour are trying to cover up for their failures in the name of reform."
His decision comes after Dr Richard Taylor was elected to parliament in 2001 after standing on the ticket of opposing cuts at Kidderminster Hospital. And Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb added: "Calling for yet more 'drastic' reform will horrify hard-working doctors and nurses, who have been subject to permanent revolution in the health service."
And hundreds of staff are due to take part in the first national strike in 18 years on Thursday in protest at the sell-off of NHS logistics to the German firm DHL.