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The Government has accepted the latest recommendations from the independent NHS Future Forum, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced today.

As part of the Government’s pledge to carry on listening to NHS staff, patients and the public, the independent NHS Future Forum was asked in the summer to listen to views on education and training, information, integrated care, and public health.

The Government has now accepted the recommendations following the Future Forum’s report, and specifically on:

• The NHS’s role in the public’s health: Following the Forum’s recommendation on ‘every contact counts’, the Government will consult on a new responsibility for healthcare professionals to promote healthy living through their day–to-day contact with patients.

• Education and training: Employers and professionals will have a greater say in developing the health workforce in the future, such as through local plans. And, for the first time, the Government will introduce an outcomes framework for education and training.

• Integrated care The Government fully accepts the need to orientate the whole health system around patients. So for the first time, patient experience of integrated care will be measured as part of the Outcomes Framework.

• Information: The Government will consider the Forum’s recommendation for discharge summaries being made available to GPs and patients at the point of discharge, as part of the Information Strategy published later this year.

Andrew Lansley said:

"As we modernise the health and care system to meet the challenges of the future, it is essential the thoughts of clinicians and, importantly, patients, are listened to. So the NHS Future Forum has again provided invaluable feedback and advice on what the NHS needs to do to improve results and put the NHS truly on the side of patients. We are taking forward modernisation within the NHS in partnership with professional leaders from the service. I'm pleased to accept all their recommendations."

Chair of the independent NHS Future Forum Steve Field said:

“We are making robust and ambitious recommendations to the NHS and to Government. We have heard an enormous amount of support for the shift to patient centred care but also frustration that this has not yet been achieved. This must now become a reality for patients across England and health and social care professionals must lead the way”.

For this exercise, the independent NHS Future Forum listened to over 11,000 people face to face at over 300 events.

Notes to Editors:
1. The full Government response to the independent NHS Future Forum report can be found at www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/01/forum-response/
2. Liberating the NHS Developing the Healthcare Workforce – From Design to Delivery can be found at www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/01/workforce-response/
3. The independent NHS Future Forum report can be found at: http://healthandcare.dh.gov.uk/forum-report/
4. The independent Future Forum will continue to listen informally to views on the health and care system.
5. Patients and the public wishing to find out more about the Government's modernisation plans can visit www.dh.gov.uk/healthandcare

Contacts:

Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk