Home > NHS White Paper > Introduction

NHS White Paper:

EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE: LIBERATING THE NHS

The White Paper on health reform entitled Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS was issued on 12th July 2010. The White Paper, which currently takes the form of a consultation document, proposes the most radical changes in the structure and operation of the NHS since its inception in 1948.

The main areas of the White Paper are:

• Putting patients and the public first.
• Improving the quality of health outcomes.
• Increased autonomy and empowerment of healthcare professionals.
• Reducing bureaucracy and increasing efficiency.

Clinicians will be encouraged to respond both to the proposals contained in the White Paper and also to the other forthcoming national consultations on detailed elements of the proposals which will include:

• Commissioning for patients – seeking views on how the new system of GP consortia and the NHS Commissioning Board will work in practice
• Increasing democratic legitimacy – seeking views on strengthening local partnerships between NHS commissioners and Local Authorities
• The Arm’s Length Body review – seeking views on changes to a range of supporting organisations
• Freeing providers and economic regulation – seeking views on how best to give real freedoms to hospitals and community services and on a new system of regulation
• The NHS Outcomes Framework – seeking views on a new framework to establish improving quality and healthcare outcomes as the primary purpose of all NHS-funded care.

This dedicated section on the website will be developed to provide a single, easy to use point of reference for local GPs on all issues arising from the Government White Paper.
 
For ease of reference, all the documents will be filed in chronological order under the three subheadings that can be found on the left hand side of this page:

• BMA /GPC Guidance
• DH Documents
• LMC information and Advice for Practices

GPs and their practice staff are encouraged to visit these pages on a regular basis to ensure that they are kept up to date with current information regarding the White Paper.