Rethink: NHS reform amendments: a victory for patients

Tuesday, 14 June 2011 2:19 PM

The charity Rethink Mental Illness - which has been leading a coalition of health charities (1) campaigning together to push through changes to the Health and Social Care Bill - says the amendments announced today represent a victory for the millions of patients they represent.

Rethink Mental Illness CEO Paul Jenkins said: “We are absolutely delighted that the government has gone above and beyond even the recommendations in the Future Forum report. The amendments announced today clearly demonstrate that the government has listened and agreed with the concerns raised by the major health charities on behalf of patients and carers.

“These substantial changes represent a real victory for patient and public involvement in the NHS. It means patients will have more of a say over their own care, and the public will be able to influence how money is spent on health services in their area.

“The changes will also ensure that the NHS is transparent and accountable, which is especially important at a time when huge swathes of power and money are being handed down to a local level.

“Health charities have been campaigning hard both behind the scenes and by bringing hundreds of patients face-to-face with minsters over the last few months – we’re delighted the government have listened, but more importantly they’ve taken action.”

ENDS

For more information please contact Rachel Whitehead, Senior Media Relations Officer for Rethink Mental Illness on 2027 840 3138


1. The charities are: Rethink Mental Illness, Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Asthma UK, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Diabetes UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, National Voices, The British Heart Foundation, The Stroke Association and The Neurological Alliance.

Notes to editors

Rethink, the leading national mental health membership charity, works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life.

We help over 52,000 people each year through our services and support groups and by providing information on mental health problems. Our website www.rethink.org receives over 500,000 visitors every year.


Rachel Whitehead
Senior Media Relations Officer
020 7840 3138 

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