Reform Package

National Voices welcomes the reforms outlined in the Queen’s Speech but argues that key issues remain to be resolved

National Voices, the organisation representing users of health and social care in England established by and for the national voluntary organisations, has welcomed the reform package set out in the Queen’s Speech today, although it has made clear that important practical issues will need to be worked through.

National Voices recognises that the new right to choice will give patients greater control over the management of their care. National Voices and its members see self care as a vital building block towards the creation of a truly patient-focused health service, and National Voices looks forward to working with parliamentarians to ensure the vision becomes a reality. However, legislation alone will not drive increasing choice in the NHS, and local healthcare providers will have to ensure that it is supported, for instance by the provision of meaningful information, if it is to work in practice.

National Voices has concerns about the NHS Constitution, which as it is currently worded, would allow health researchers to contact patients directly, in contravention to existing rules of confidentiality and data protection. This is an important point of principle and will need to be reviewed to ensure that the Government’s desire to increase the UK’s research activities does not come at the expense of the patient’s right to protection.

National Voices is supportive of the legislation that will allow piloting of individual health budgets. They will need to be rigourously tested and reviewed before being considered for application at any wider population level.

Lastly, whilst supporting the broad aims of the Welfare Reform Bill, National Voices wishes to raise the serious concerns that many of it members representing people living with long-term conditions have about being unduly forced to re-enter the workplace, most especially at this time of economic uncertainty.

In commenting on the Queen’s Speech, National Voices chief executive David Pink, said: “There are many parts of this reform package that we would welcome and support. We look forward to being involved in the process of taking the vision and making it a reality. That said many important practical issues still need to be resolved and on behalf of our members we urge ministers to take note of their and our concerns.” 

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Notes to editors:
National Voices is the new umbrella organisation established by and for the national voluntary organisations representing users of health and social care in England to give them a stronger voice in policy-making. National Voices works with policy-makers in Westminster and Whitehall to make sure that the voices of patients, carers and service users are heard and that their diverse needs and preferences are genuinely placed at the heart of policy development. In doing this National Voices will ensure that the views of the people who use health and social care services are heard by the people who shape and provide those services.

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Julian Tyndale-Biscoe, InHealth Communications, on ++44 7882 985 597 (julian.tb@inhealthcomms.com)