Andrew Lansley states:

“There is nothing in the NHS Act today that prevents a government from passing notional control over the NHS’s budget to the frontline or from establishing a notionally independent body to oversee the design of NHS services.”

Well that’s good news then. Most agree that the NHS needs some reforming so we can use existing legislation to carry out said reforms.

But hang on. He further states:

“But legislation is required to give the NHS the confidence that we are resolute in our determination to see an NHS that is led by doctors and nurses and freed from political micromanagement.”

I may be wrong, but this sentence sounds to me like ‘doublespeak’. It fails to inform the reader why new legislation is required, especially given his first statement above.

This begs the question whether there is more to the latter statement than meets the eye?

Competing interests: None declared