By Jonathan Isaby
I have already written this morning about the ongoing speculation about what the Government is going to do with its NHS reforms.
Right on cue comes another contribution to the debate this morning from the think-tank Policy Exchange.
It has just issued a paper, Implementing GP Commissioning, by Eve Norridge, a former head of the public services team in the Conservative Research Department and policy adviser at the Treasury.
She is in favour of the commissioning model favoured by Andrew Lansley, but uses the report to urge the Government not to move so fast:
"In recent years, GP involvement in commissioning has received widespread support from politicians of all parties and across the NHS. It would be a loss to everyone if it were discredited and the emerging consensus destroyed through overly rapid implementation. The changes that are planned are a natural next step from trials in the 1990s and from Labour's practice-based commissioning programme.
"However, the government has lost many potential supporters, both inside and outside the NHS, through pressing ahead with them so quickly. If these issues are simply swept under the carpet then patient care may suffer in the transfer to the new system and further undermine confidence in the proposals. On the other hand, if the hard work is done to slow things down, to bring sceptics back on board and to lay a solid evidence base for the scheme, then its potential to deliver real and lasting transformation in the NHS is enormous."
She adds:
"There are many GPs who have the potential to become highly successful commissioners. It would be a loss to everyone, especially patients, if the policy were discredited due to overly hasty implementation.”
“Our report argues that GPs will need to support the new system if it is going to be a success. Ministers need to address GPs’ concerns before loading such huge new responsibilities on their shoulders.
“The danger is that GPs take part so reluctantly in the new scheme that it ends up replicating the existing model rather than becoming the new and innovative system the Government desires.”
It is a 56-page paper and can be downloaded here.
Among Norridge's key recommendations are the following: