The Government accepts it needs to change NHS reform – a victory for patients and for Rethink!

What were we worried about?

When we first saw the Government’s proposals for a radical shake-up of the NHS back in January we were really worried that it didn’t do enough to give patients and carers a real say in their own care, or on the type of NHS services they’d get. We were really concerned that while lots of money and power was passing down locally to GPs, there was no corresponding transfer of influence down to patients. We were concerned that patients wouldn’t have a say in what services they got, how their taxpayers’ money was spent, or how their own care was planned.

What did we do?

Ten weeks ago, the Government created the ‘Future Forum’ – a group asked to undertake a ‘listening exercise’ and then report back to the Government on what should be changed in the NHS plans. Rethink wanted to make sure it wasn’t only doctors that were listened to, but patients

Rethink gathered a coalition of health charities including Macmillan Cancer Support and Age UK, to push for greater patient and public involvement in the new NHS – calling the campaign #MyNHS. We created email and social media campaigns which thousands took part in and brought together the Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and Minister for Care Services, Paul Burstow with hundreds of service users and carers so that they could listen to patients directly.

So what has really changed?

 Yesterday, after 10 weeks of listening, the Future Forum released its report. Today – Tuesday 14th June – the Government responded and spelled out what changes they would make to the NHS plans.

Those changes include all of the things that Rethink has been asking for – representing a really big campaign win for us, the charity partners we assembled and most importantly, for the patients and carers we represent. Following the campaign, the Health and Social Care Bill will be changed as follows:

• duties to be amended to involve patients and carers in their own care to better reflect the principle of “no decision about me without me”.

• Duties on the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups to involve patients, carers and the public in commissioning decisions will be clarified. Commissioning groups will be required to consult on their annual commissioning plans to ensure proper opportunities for public input.

• Commissioning bodies will have to include lay community members in their governance - for improved accountability to the public. There must be 'at least two lay members, one with a lead role in championing patient and public involvement'.

• Commissioning governing bodies must conduct their business in public and be transparent.

• Health and Wellbeing Boards will have a new duty to involve users and the public.

• Local HealthWatch membership must be representative of different users, including carers.

• Clinical commissioning groups will have a duty to promote integrated health and social care around the needs of users.

• The Care Quality Commission will have a duty to respond to issues raised by the proposed new patient body, HealthWatch.

 What’s next?

These changes should give service users and carers really meaningful opportunities to shape the NHS services they use, through the ability to influence GP commissioning groups, Health and Wellbeing Boards and getting involved with their local HealthWatch.

We’ll now be watching closely to see how the Government goes about applying these new changes to the NHS bill and making sure that they become a reality. We know that today’s announcements are only the beginning for these changes and the work of patients groups and charities is not over yet. But for now, we do want say ‘well done and thank you!’ to all of those who campaigned with us.