NHS body fears health reforms

London: The biggest shake-up of the National Health Service (NHS) in 60 years represents a "hazardous journey" with a "real danger of failures in quality of care or finances", said the body representing the health service establishment in its submission to the NHS.

The NHS confederation, which represents 95 per cent of NHS bodies and includes chief executives of health trusts and most senior managers, identified "significant risks, worrying uncertainties and unexploited opportunities" in the government's health reforms.

Andrew Lansley, the health secretary, unveiled a radical pro-market agenda for the health service in England in July that would permit hospitals to leave public ownership to become "not for profit" companies, hand more consumer powers to patients and allow failing medical centres to go bust.

As part of the plan, England's 35,000 GPs will be handed £80 billion (Dh464.83 billion) of taxpayers' money and be forced to form consortiums by 2013.

No opportunity

There will be no opportunity to opt out of the new system. Up to 500 consortiums will commission treatment from hospitals on behalf of patients.

Nigel Edwards, acting chief executive of the confederation, said there were "very deep worries" about the transition.

"This is the area where people's concerns have been greatest because there is a real danger of failures in quality of care or finances. We are about to embark on a hazardous journey at a time when resources are hugely stretched. The risks are very real indeed," he said.

He added: "Radical change [will] require a major shift in culture and the way the NHS does business, as well as a shake-up of institutions. The fact of the matter is that the government is planning to build a very big new machine at great pace but no one can be quite sure what will happen when it is switched on."