BMJ  2006;333 (29 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7561.0-f

Editor's choice

The clear vision of outsiders

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

It takes outsiders to see things with the most clarity. Thus, in our Health Policy debate this week—on whether the NHS should be more independent of government and politicians—it is two Americans, Don Berwick and Sheila Leatherman, who articulate most clearly what the NHS should be about and how it seems to have lost its way (p 254). "The NHS is not just a national treasure; it is a global treasure." It needs "the time, space, and constancy of purpose to realise its enormous promise."

Berwick and Leatherman, together with Stephen Thornton, Gwyn Bevan, and Stephen Gillam (pp 251-5), are responding to Fiona Godlee's call in her editor's choice earlier this year for an independent NHS authority, protected from the capricious effects of party politics. Interestingly, while all the commentators worry about constant reorganisation and inconsistent changes in direction, none want to see politicians removed too . . . [Full text of this article]

Jane Smith, deputy editor

(jsmith@bmj.com)


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

MPs give independent treatment centres a poor report
Andrew Cole
BMJ 2006 333: 215. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

An independent NHS?
BMJ 2006 333: 251. [Full Text] [PDF]

A third way
Gwyn Bevan
BMJ 2006 333: 252-253. [Full Text]

Steadying the NHS
Donald M Berwick and Sheila Leatherman
BMJ 2006 333: 254-255. [Full Text]

Reforms to NHS commissioning in England
Chris Ham
BMJ 2006 333: 211-212. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

NHS shouldn't be made independent
Hari Muppala
bmj.com, 29 Jul 2006 [Full text]
The NHS is not a 'treasure' - merely a means to an end
Bruce G Charlton
bmj.com, 30 Jul 2006 [Full text]
Independent NHS, What?
Jay Ilangaratne
bmj.com, 31 Jul 2006 [Full text]
Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student BMJ