NHS reform pledges

The government has unveiled its five pledges to reassure patients and healthcare professionals over its NHS reform programme.

Health minister and surgeon Lord Ara Darzi, who is leading the review of the reform, has also outlined the eight steps that need to be taken before change takes place.

The peer says any reform will benefit patients and be clinically driven as well as locally led.

In his report Lord Darzi also pledged to involve patients in any changes and insisted existing services would not be withdrawn.

His reform update comes ahead of the final report on the next stage of development in the health service and follows health groups calling for NHS workers to be the driving force behind changes.

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