Lord Darzi emphasises ‘care for all’

Lord Darzi, the health minister responsible for the NHS review, has emphasised that high quality care for all must be the main focus for the NHS.

His comments come as the interim report on the ‘Our NHS, Our Future’ review is set to be published later today.

Lord Darzi has stressed that local NHS staff should have greater autonomy and control while working in partnership across the service.
“This is not about imposing more change from the centre.

Effective change needs to be led locally, driven by clinicians and others working in partnership across the service,” he argued.

Lord Darzi also confirmed an immediate step to improve innovation in the NHS by introducing a new Health Innovation Council.

This would work together with a fund of ?100 million to help the NHS develop and deploy hi-tech innovation such as medical devices and diagnostics.

However BBC News has reported of increasing scepticism surrounding the interim report, with some concerns that it has been published a week ahead of schedule to coincide with an election announcement.

Jonathan Fielden of the British Medical Association told the BBC that he hoped the report would set out a clear vision for the NHS.

“But my concern is that it will be about getting good news about before an election,” he added.

The Darzi review was announced in the summer by health secretary Alan Johnson with the final report expected next year in time for the 60th anniversary of the NHS.