King's Fund statement on NHS Operating Framework 2008/09

Commenting in response to the publication of the NHS Operating Framework for 2008/09, King’s Fund chief executive Niall Dickson said:

'It is right that the government should set national priorities and right too that they should maintain the assault on hospital infections and the drive to cut waiting time. These are areas that patients are justifiably concerned about and it is imperative the NHS makes progress in them.‘

Crucially, this document is an important step forward in getting to grips with what has long been the Achilles heel of the service – commissioning. The Department of Health is right to emphasise that better care and services will not be achieved through central directives and targets, but through better local commissioning led by primary care trusts (PCTs).