The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 265 No 7108 p182-183
August 5, 2000 News

Ten-year modernisation plan for NHS

The National Health Service is to be redesigned around the needs of patients under the 10-year modernisation plan outlined by the Government on July 27.
The NHS plan, subtitled "A plan for investment, a plan for reform", envisages 7,000 extra beds in hospitals and intermediate care, over 100 new hospitals and 500 one-stop primary care centres, 7,500 more consultants, 2,000 more general medical practitioners, 20,000 extra nurses and 6,500 extra therapists and other health care professionals.
Speaking in the House of Commons on July 27, the Prime Minister (Mr Tony Blair) said that the challenge was to make the NHS once again the health care system the world envied most. He said that in preparing the plan, the Government had looked long and hard at issues which were relics of the original NHS settlement of 1948. These included "absurd" demarcations between staff, the split between social services and the NHS, contracts for GPs and consultants, and the relationship between the private sector and the NHS.
On the subject of demarcation, the plan says that "the new approach will shatter the old demarcations which have held back staff and slowed down care" [Para 9.5]. By 2004, the majority of NHS staff are expected to be working under agreed protocols for common conditions. The new NHS Modernisation Agency will "lead a major drive to ensure that protocol based care takes hold throughout the NHS" [Para 9.4]. Nurse prescribing will be extended and, by 2004, under patient group directions "a majority of nurses should be able to prescribe" [Para 9.6]. (The Department of Health later said that this should have read "administer and supply" not "prescribe".)

• NHS staff Improved pay for NHS staff. Market forces supplement to top up pay in areas with labour shortages. Expanded child care provision
• NICE The National Institute for Clinical Excellence will have its budget increased so as to carry out 50 per cent more appraisals and guidelines
• New buildings 100 new hospitals by 2010. 20 diagnostic and treatment centres for routine surgery. 500 one-stop primary care centres. 3,000 GP surgeries refurbished. New buildings to be paid for by public capital and the Private Finance Initiative
• Trusts New care trusts to integrate health and social services. All primary care groups to be trusts by 2004
• Patient advocates Each trust to have a patient advocate and liaison service. New NHS Charter to replace Patients Charter. Patients' forum for each trust and PCT
• NHSplus New occupational health service available to staff and external employers
• Cleaning and food More money for hospital cleaning. Unannounced inspections of hospitals. New 24-hour NHS catering service