The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Jeremy Hunt)
Today, I am laying before Parliament my annual assessment of the NHS Commissioning Board (known as NHS England) for 2014-15. The NHS Commissioning Board Annual Report & Accounts 2014-15 were also laid (HC109). Together these documents show an improving picture of performance, both in terms of delivering the Government’s mandate and more widely as an organisation. Copies of both documents will be available to hon. Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.
NHS England’s annual report sets out the progress that has been made in the last year in delivering the Government’s mandate as well as acting to reduce health inequalities, improve quality and encourage greater public and patient involvement in the health service. I am encouraged by its focus on improving efficiency and delivery across the health service and its plans to tackle those areas where improvement is required.
My annual assessment recognises the progress that NHS England has made, I have been impressed by the way in which NHS England has worked with organisations across the health system to develop the NHS Five Year Forward View. We are committed to this vision for a better NHS, which has generated consensus across the health system about how care needs to change to meet patients’ needs.
The assessment also sets out my expectations of NHS England for the year ahead. In particular we want to see the NHS make further progress on achieving parity of esteem for mental health and to address winter pressures including restoring and sustaining performance all year round against access standards. We also want to see NHS England strengthen commissioning assurance as well as working with the health system to deliver the productivity and efficiency savings identified within the NHS Five Year Forward View.
Overall NHS England has made good progress during 2014-15. We will continue to work closely with NHS England to address the significant challenges ahead that will require NHS England to work with organisations across the health system to deliver the new care models, along with the productivity and efficiency savings articulated in the NHS Five Year Forward View.
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