EmailA review of arm's length bodies (ALBs) published by health secretary Andrew Lansley today has recommended bureaucracy to be cut and the functions of several organisations streamlined.
The changes outlined will reduce the number of health ALBs from 18 to between eight and 10 and are expected to deliver savings of over £180m by 2014-15.
The initiative comes after the wider reforms set out in the recent white paper, Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS, where Lansley stated that the DoH's ALB sector will be transformed to cut cost and remove duplication and burdens on the NHS.
The review has assessed whether the work of each of the DoH's 18 ALBs remains essential nationally. It also looked at whether work is being duplicated or could be better carried out by a different body.
Subject to Parliamentary approval, organisations which are no longer needed will be removed from the sector, with essential work moved to other bodies.
It is also part of the cross-government strategy to increase accountability and transparency, and to reduce the number and cost of quangos.
"In order to secure every possible means to greater value for money and efficiency, we have acted decisively to ensure that our ALB sector remains fit for purpose and affordable. Over the years the sector has grown to the point where overlap between organisations and duplication of effort have produced a needless bureaucratic web. By making sure that the right functions are being carried out at the appropriate level, we will free up significant savings to support front-line NHS services" said Lansley.
From Bubb's Blog
From Flip Chart Fairy Tales
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