The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7486 p71
26 January 2008

This article
Reprint   Photocopy

  Acrobat Reader

News summary

Independent board would not end political meddling in the NHS

Creation of an independent board to manage the NHS would not stop political meddling in the day-to-day running of the health service as proponents suggest, according to a new King’s Fund report.

The report argues that an independent board would have limited ability to prevent politicisation, adding that the distinction between policy and operational decisions is difficult to apply in practice. However, it says: “What an independent board might do is create the impression of reduced politicisation that would bring its own benefits, particularly in terms of support by clinicians. Such political distancing could also be beneficial to the public’s perception of the NHS.”

Nevertheless, the authors describe plans for an independent board as “misguided” and discuss a number of alternatives.