By Tom Moberly, 19 August 2011
Professor Field: ?The prime minister has guaranteed a high level of independence'
In addition to the group being chaired by former RCGP chairman Professor Field, workstreams will be led by Professor David Haslam, former president and chairman of the RCGP, and Manchester GP Dr Robert Varnam.
Professor Haslam will lead the information workstream, while Dr Varnam will lead work on integration.
The forum met this week and will meet again at the beginning of September. Over 50 members will work across the group?s four workstreams.
Professor Field said he had received assurances from Number 10 that the group?s work would be free of political interference. ?The prime minister has guaranteed a high level of independence,? he said.
Health secretary Andrew Lansley and NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson had also stressed the importance of the group being able to work independently, he said.
Professor Haslam will manage the information workstream, working alongside Jeremy Taylor, chief executive of patient group National Voices.
The work on information would look at using data to improve care, Professor Field said. ?It is about how we can use that data and information to improve the quality of care,? he said. ?How can we help patients understand what is a good service and what is an excellent service??
Dr Varnam will work on integration alongside Geoff Alltimes, chief executive of Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council.
The education and training workstream will be led by Julie Moore, chief executive of the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
The public health elements of the NHS Future Forum's work will be led by Ash Soni, a community pharmacist in Lambeth Pharmacist and chairman of Lambeth professional executive committee. Mr Soni will work alongside Vicky Bailey of the social enterprise Principia.
Confirmation that the NHS Future Forum would continue to advise on the health service reforms has been widely welcomed.
Sir Richard Thompson, president of the Royal College of Physicians said NHS Future Forum?s first report had resulted in positive changes to the Health Bill.
However, there are still areas of the government?s proposed reforms that require clarity and could be improved,? he said. ?The next phase of Future Forum work will hopefully improve the health service reforms further.?
NHS Confederation chief executive Mike Farrar said he had been ?strongly urging? the government that the end of the ?pause? should not mark the end of the listening.�
?The concerns of those who run the NHS and work on the frontline must always be a fundamental part of making this and future reforms work successfully,? he said.
?In return, the NHS itself needs to take more responsibility in engaging proactively with the development of policy.?
Source: http://www.gponline.com/channel/news/article/1085638/gps-help-lead-nhs-future-forums-ongoing-work/
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