NHS reforms on hold

NHS reforms have been put on pause, health secretary Andrew Lansley has said.
After a period of sustained criticism from doctors, unions, Labour and many Liberal Democrats, the government has backed down and promised to listen to concerns.
The plans would scrap primary care trusts and place commissioning power in the hands of local GPs, in a move likely to see funding decisions outsourced to private companies.
The changes were not in the coalition agreement and it is thought that the 'pause' is partly to avoid a major Lib Dem rebellion in the Commons.