NHS Confederation voices fear over red tape burden of health reforms

The NHS Confederation has expressed concern that the incoming Health and Social Care Act will create a "tsunami of bureaucracy" for the NHS.

NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar told Health Service Journal that health service leaders are worried about the number of new organisations being set up to preside over different elements of NHS operations.

At least seven bodies will impact on the NHS on a day-to-day basis, making it essential that each of these organisations coordinate their priorities and behaviour to ensure that healthcare providers are not impacted by a deluge of conflicting policies.

Key concerns among health service chairs and chief executives include a lack of expertise and experience among these new organisations, as well as disruption caused by the reorganisation and financial pressures stemming from cost-saving targets.

Mr Farrar said: "The NHS must stay focused on patient care, not repeatedly providing information in different formats to multiple bodies."

Earlier this week, it was announced that government is hoping to raise more money for the UK health service by encouraging hospital trusts to set up profit-generating overseas clinics.