Foundation status reform not most important, say trusts
pharmafile | October 29, 2003 | News story | |
The Government's plans for foundations hospitals will have much less impact on the NHS than other reforms of the health service, according to a new survey of NHS chief executives.
A poll of 102 trust, PCT and strategic health authority chief executives, conducted by MORI and published by the NHS Confederation, found that 92% thought that other policy changes would have a greater impact over the next five years.
Almost 4 out of 10 chief executives thought that increased patient choice – whereby patients will be able to choose which hospital they attend, based on its clinical record and waiting lists – would have the greatest effect on the NHS.
Six out of ten thought achieving foundation status would be a positive step for their organisation, but said new staff roles, a national NHS IT strategy and payment by results would all prove to be more significant.
The NHS Confederation warned that the "almost exclusive focus" on foundation status should not "Monopolise" the debate on health reform, and said other policy changes that will transform the NHS and healthcare provision should not be sidelined.
"Foundations are important, but they are not the sole answer to the challenges facing the NHS," said NHS Confederation Chief Executive Dr Gill Morgan. "The biggest improvements will not be delivered by new organisational structures, but by new ways of working which re-organise services around the needs of patients."
Fifty three percent of chief executives said patent choice would affect the NHS 'a great deal' and 39% 'a fair amount'
This compared with 33% and 51% respectively for the impact of a national IT strategy, 32% and 48% for new staff roles and contracts, and 18% and 41% for foundation status.
The Government's decision to confer foundation status to top-performing hospitals, allowing them greater independence from Whitehall control, has proven to be highly controversial.
The plans were passed by Parliament in May, despite a rebellion by over 60 backbench Labour MPs, who fear the plans will create a two-tier NHS.
Almost half the chief executives surveyed thought foundation status would result in greater management freedom, with over a third (36%) believing it would improve patient care.
The survey also examined chief executives' views on management issues, with financial stability (36%), targets (29%) and redesigning services around patient needs (18%) the biggest challenges. Almost 70% expressed concerns that negative perceptions of the NHS are leading to fewer clinicians venturing into management.
