Johnson quizzes public on NHS
Alan Johnson has pledged to listen to staff and patients
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Tuesday, 18, Sep 2007 12:53
The health secretary Alan Johnson and key health figures are meeting with NHS staff and members of the public today to talk about the future of the health service.
Health minister Lord Darzi, who is conducting a review of the NHS, is also taking part along with other ministers and clinicians.
Regional 'listening events' are taking place across the country – in Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Bristol, Maidstone, Reading, Norwich and York – in what is one of the largest engagement events in this history of the NHS.
The talks follow prime minister Gordon Brown's expressed intention to make the NHS his priority.
When he took over as leader earlier this summer Mr Brown said there would be a greater focus on listening to the electorate and NHS staff.
Speaking on BBC 1's Breakfast programme this morning, Mr Johnson said today's discussions are not about the structure of the NHS but instead are a "dialogue" about how to improve care.
"Any big organisation should continually be talking to its customers, if you like, patients, but also involving staff," he said.
"Leave aside structures. How can we improve direct care for the patients given advances in medical technology, new sciences coming along and people actually being less deferential and more demanding about their health service?"
The results of today's sessions will contribute to Lord Darzi's review - Our NHS, Our Future.