NHS England sets out plan to revoke Lansley’s competition rules

NHS England has outlined plans to repeal divisive laws on competition and procurement that were introduced in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 in a bid to promote integration in the health service.12

The move, which was trailed in the NHS long term plan,3 is designed to make it easier for the NHS to integrate services by freeing commissioners from the burden of having to tender service contracts on the open market.

If approved by ministers, the legislative change, which was recommended by the cross-party Commons health and social select committee, would mark a major shift away from the pro-competition agenda championed by former health secretary Andrew Lansley, the architect of the 2012 act.

The rules governing competition in …