Government reforms to the NHS have left the capital’s health services without much-needed strategic leadership according to evidence heard by the London Assembly.
The reforms introduced a new local approach to healthcare commissioning and monitoring but representatives from Clinical Commissioning Groups, NHS England (London) and Healthwatch told Assembly Members a “cohesive decision-making body” to provide strategic leadership was needed.
The witnesses were appearing as part of the Assembly Health Committee’s review of the reforms.
In addition to the Assembly review, Mayor Boris Johnson has established an independent Health Commission headed by Lord Darzi to examine how healthcare in the capital can be improved.
Dr Onkar Sahota AM, Chair of the Health Committee, said the Commission’s recommendations need to include proposals to deliver strong, joined-up leadership.
He commented: “London’s complex health care needs require strategic leadership to mould services that deliver properly for Londoners. We need a process that feeds information gathered on the front line into a strategic forum that can then take action across the capital.”
