An Audience with Lord Darzi
10 July 2008
This discussion considered the implications for the health service of Professor Lord Darzi's Our NHS, Our Future review. Lord Darzi reflected on his final report and set out the major challenges ahead for the NHS.
The future of general practice
15 May 2008
This debate considered how general practice can best respond to proposed reforms and the need for change, and what role it might play in the future shape of primary care.
A range of reforms to this central pillar of the health service is now being contemplated. Moves to allow more commercial and other organisations to deliver services traditionally provided by GPs, the focus on walk-in centres and polyclinics, new out-of-hours cover arrangements, as well as the developing policy on the commissioning of secondary care, have the potential to change the face of general practice.
Many GPs accept that change is inevitable and that it is right to focus on the quality, organisation and delivery of services but tensions exist. Speakers were:
- Mark Adams, Chief Executive officer, Virgin Healthcare
- David Orchard, former Executive Director, Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health
- Dr Nigel Watson, Chairman, Commissioning and Service Development subcommittee, General Practitioners Committee
- Professor Mayur Lakhani, former Chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners
- Niall Dickson, Chief Executive, King's Fund (chair)
Does the NHS need a constitution?
6 February 2008
This debate offered a timely opportunity to explore the case for a constitution and examine alternative approaches to ending ministerial interference and micromanagement by the Department of Health. Speakers included:
- Andrew Lansley CBE MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health
- Dr Richard Horton, Editor in Chief, The Lancet
- Anna Dixon, Acting Director of Policy, King’s Fund
- Niall Dickson, Chief Executive, King's Fund (chair)
Listen to soundbites from this event
