NHS services ‘will change through reforms’

David Nicholson, chief executive of the NHS, has reiterated the need for the services provided by the NHS to change, following a letter he sent to MPs in which he indicated a number of reforms, including a number of closures, are imminent.

Speaking on Channel 4 News, Mr Nicholson said that in order to improve the health service, over 70 new hospitals have been opened in recent years and that as a result, other services had inevitably changed.

Mr Nicholson said that during this process of restructuring, the NHS aims to consult with local people when changes involving local health services are proposed.

“We are trying to improve services, we are trying to change the way services are delivered to patients, we are trying to move services in the community and obviously services will change in those circumstances,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health recently announced that the NHS is likely to experience a ?94 million net deficit during the 2006/07 financial year, the BBC reports.

Shadow health minister Stephen O’Brien described the situation as a “financial mess” due to the government’s poor management of the health service.