Innovation in European healthcare – what can Sweden learn? - LIF

The reform is controversial – private healthcare
providers in the public system are not accepted in the
same way as in Germany or France
• The government aims to strengthen the voice of
patients through the setting up of a new national
body, HealthWatch, and local HealthWatch
organisations.
• A new body, Public Health England, will lead
on public health at the national level, and local
authorities will do so at a local level
• Key regulators – CQC and NICE– will be
retained, though it remains to be seen how their
roles may change.
• A new regulator, Monitor, will be established to
regulate providers of NHS services in the
interests of patients and prevent anticompetitive
behaviour
• In addition, it is already clear that the new
government intends to restrict NHS
expenditure compared with previous regimes.
This is almost certain to have an impact on the
delivery of NHS services.
• According to many commentators, the recent
Spending Review plans for the NHS (October
2011) amount to a de facto cut in NHS
spending in real terms.
• For example the British Medical Association
remains in “outright opposition” to the reform.
• One of the most persistent criticisms of the
reforms has been that this could amount to
partial privatisation of the NHS. Critics fear a
“rush to the bottom”, as providers may slash
costs to win contracts, driving down quality of
treatment for patients.
• Another major concern is about fragmentation of
the NHS and a loss of coordination and planning
as a result of the abolishment of PCT’s.
• The Lancet predicted an "unprecedented chaos"
as a result of the reforms, with a leaked draft
risk-assessment showing that emergencies
would be less well managed and the increased
use of the private sector would drive up costs.
• The health think tank “The King's Fund” state
that private sector organisations have always
played an important role in the NHS and that
"the NHS will remain a publicly funded system
under the proposals, and at least for the
foreseeable future the majority of services are
likely to be provided by NHS organisations".
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