Blair takes charge of NHS reforms
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Publication of the Government's long-awaited White Paper on the future of the National Health Service has been postponed for a week to enable Tony Blair to give his personal backing to the proposals which will put family doctors in the driving seat for changes to the way patient care is ordered.
The White Paper was due to be published on Monday, but the Prime Minister has taken charge of the launch of the reforms, which will replace fundholding by GPs with groups of family doctors acting together to order care from hospitals.
There are increasing signs that Mr Blair could seek to tackle the problems facing the NHS with a big increase in funding for the health service before the next election. A strong hint of a substantial increase in spending on the health service was given by the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, when he emphasised his commitment to increase health service funding above the rate of inflation in his pre-Budget report this week.
Doctors leaders emerged from a private meeting with ministers convinced that the Government is preparing a "substantial" increase in funding for the NHS.
The Government has already provided an extra pounds 300m to avert a crisis in the hospitals this winter. The British Medical Association is privately warning ministers that an additional pounds 500m is needed to avoid the queues growing, but is poised to mount a campaign for a massive increase, arguing that Britain still spends far less on health than its European neighbours. Health spending in Britain, including private health, is 6.9 per cent of gross domestic product; France spends 9.8 per cent, Germany 10.4 per cent, Italy 7.7 per cent, and the United States 14.2 per cent.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments