Government’s sweeping NHS reforms go live

UK healthcare sector leaders are coming to terms with the introduction of some of the most significant reforms to the NHS's operating model since its inception this week.

On April 1st 2013, a number of the government's most significant Health and Social Care Act reforms came into effect, including the abolition of primary care trusts and the introduction of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to manage the distribution of NHS budgets.

Healthcare industry bodies are moving to ensure their members are prepared for the sweeping changes, with the Royal College of GPs issuing guidance on how CCGs can work most effectively with local communities.

The NHS Confederation has suggested that the new structure could help improve service quality in certain ways, provided that doctors are up to the challenge of coping with the transition process.

However, the British Medical Association (BMA) has voiced concerns about the lack of detail provided about the reforms, as well as the impact of increased competition in the provision of services.

BMA council chair Mark Porter said: "Our members are telling us they do not have clear information about what will be happening."