Government not planning to repeal Lansley legislation

The BBC has reported today that ministers could be preparing to bring forward plans to repeal parts of the legislation brought in under former health secretary Lord Lansley.

The 2012 legislation has previously been described by senior cabinet ministers as one of the biggest mistakes made by the coalition government, and has been blamed for causing widespread fragmentation in the NHS and being a barrier to changes necessary to integrate care.

Senior sources close to negotiations over the government’s long term funding plan say while the plan will need to address the issue of longer term integration and the reforms necessary to bring that about, there is no suggestion the government will bring forward a plan for a health bill in Parliament.

The current parliamentary arithmetic and the government’s slim majority makes passage of any health legislation extremely difficult and the political make up in the House of Lords also presents a risk to any potential health bill.

HSJ today revealed the discussions over the government’s long term plan could include redrawing the NHS England ringfence, while expectations are that the NHS will receive real terms funding increases of 3 per cent or above.

Today’s news comes in the same week the act will be scrutinised as part of a judicial review, brought by NHS campaigners, over development of NHSE’s accountable care models.