Health secretary outlines plans for patient-centric NHS reforms

Health secretary Andrew Lansley has launched consultations on major changes to NHS services, which will aim to give patients more choice and control over their care provision.

The government is publishing two documents which will outline a series of measures designed to give patients a say over which healthcare providers they are treated by and what therapy options they receive

It will also aim to grant more freedom over management of pregnancy and end-of-life care.

In addition, the NHS information strategy will be overhauled, with the consultation to discuss giving patients more access to their medical data and the effect this will have on care quality.

Mr Lansley said these measures will fulfil the intention of the recent white paper to create a patient-centric NHS that delivers improved outcomes and empowers service users.

"The first principle of the white paper is that the NHS should ensure that for patients, 'no decision about me, without me' is the invariable practice," he explained.

This comes after the Department of Health announced a review of advisory non-departmental public bodies last week in order to improve the NHS' accountability and transparency.