The NHS is heading down a hole—should we stop digging?

doi:10.1136/bmj.e805

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Fiona Godlee, editor, BMJ

fgodlee{at}bmj.com

A few weeks ago Martin McKee asked “Does anyone understand the government’s plan for the NHS?” (BMJ 2012;344:e399, doi:10.1136/bmj.e399). McKee had three questions: why were the reforms necessary, what exactly did they consist of, and why were changes happening before the legislation has been passed? Emails he received, as well as rapid responses on bmj.com, suggest that many of you share his confusion. So we invited the architect of the reforms, Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley, to explain. In his reply (doi:10.1136/bmj.e789) he says the reforms will safeguard the NHS for the future, put patients first, focus efforts on overall results delivered to …