The letter below has been sent below by Andy Burnham MP to Jeremy Hunt MP, following the astonishing remarks by Sir David Nicholson as reported here in the Observer. The reforms have cost about £3bn, it is reported, at a time when the UK economy has been managed poorly. The Nicholson Challenge is certainly an admirable ’cause’ of finding efficiency savings in the NHS, but clearly difficult when you have to spend billions on a massive top-down reorganisation, spending money like simply pouring money down a drain. Andy Burnham MP would be failing in his duty in Shadow Secretary of State for Health if he did not draw attention to these issues, and it is of course open to Jeremy Hunt MP to admit, deny or put-to-proof any of the specific points therein.

 

Dear Jeremy,

 

I was astonished to read in today’s Observer that the man charged with implementing your Government’s re-organisation of the NHS has serious doubts about it and fears it could end in “misery and failure”.

 

Right now, the NHS is in a dangerous position, facing unprecedented financial and organisational upheaval. As I am sure you will appreciate, the timing of these comments from the Chief Executive of the NHS, David Nicholson have the potential to increase the growing crisis of confidence in your Government’s reforms.

 

We already knew that there was widespread professional concern about your re-organisation but it is now clear it goes right to the top of the Department. To reduce any potential for confusion, I would be grateful if you could set out whether David Nicholson has raised his concerns directly with you and, as a result, whether you will make any changes to the plans you inherited from your predecessor?

 

One of the most serious concerns David Nicholson raises is the warning against “carpet bombing” the NHS with competition – a clear reference to the enforced open tendering of NHS services under the Any Qualified Provider process.

 

In Labour’s recent NHS Check report, we revealed the accelerating pace and scale of competition in the NHS. 396 separate community services have been forced out to competition under the first wave of AQP. Despite promising to put clinicians in the driving seat, your Government has ordered PCTs to put successful services out to tender – in many cases, against their stated plans.

 

Worryingly, before any evaluation of the first round of AQP, you are now planning a major expansion of the policy with a further 39 services opened out to competition before next April.

 

I have major concerns about this rapid expansion and its potential to de-stabilise successful NHS services – and it now appears my concerns are shared by the Chief Executive of the NHS.

 

In light of these comments, and to bring some stability to the NHS, I believe there is now a clear case for the suspension of the next wave of the Any Qualified Provider process, pending a full review of wave one and the effect it has had on existing services and quality of patient care.

 

I ask you to give this sensible proposal serious consideration. David Nicholson’s comments are a stark reminder of the gamble your Government is taking with the NHS and should provide pause for thought.

 

Best wishes

RT HON ANDY BURNHAM MP