WIREDGOV

The proposals, which are out to a three-month consultation, include:

• Abolishing the internal market in Wales by providing funding from the Welsh Assembly Government or an NHS Board for Wales directly to NHS Trusts and Local Health Boards (LHBs);
• Three options for establishing a Board for Wales - a Special Health Authority, a Civil Service Board, or an Advisory Board supporting an Assembly Government NHS Chief Executive; and,
• LHBs reduced from 22 to eight, including Powys LHB.

Mrs Hart said:

My ultimate aim is to improve patient care and the patient experience. Work is already well under way in Wales to reduce bureaucracy and remove artificial boundaries within the NHS in Wales. Yesterday, three new NHS Trusts became operational after the merger of seven Trusts. This new simplified structure will provide better joint working between hospitals, further career opportunities for staff, easier access to a wider range of health professionals and with smaller management, more money can be channelled to frontline services to improve patient care.

The consultation I am launching today aims to build on this work and the proposals are driven by a desire to have administrative arrangements for the NHS that are effective in improving services to patients – and supportive of our collaborative approach to improvement across the public services.

These are not driven by issues of cost. These proposed changes will be contained within the current finances.

The experience and expertise of the people who work within the NHS are its most important asset. I know that a time of change can be an unsettling time for all staff but I want to assure everyone that I am determined that this expertise should be retained as any changes are implemented.

The One Wales document commits the Welsh Assembly Government to end the internal market in order to improve health services for patients. Ending the internal market is part of a wider Assembly Government drive to encourage co-operation rather than competition in delivering public services. These proposals will aim to meet that pledge.

The NHS has an impact on all of us and that is why it is so important that as many people as possible have their say and carefully read the consultation document and give your views.

Related Information

http://new.wales.gov.uk/consultations/currentconsultation/healandsoccarecurrcons/?lang=en

http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/health/?lang=en

http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/health/nhswales/?lang=en