Darzi focuses on quality

Lord Darzi's next stage review of the NHS has called for a health service more focused on quality of care.

The junior health minister's review calls for trusts to be penalised for failing to tackle healthcare acquired infections.

Quality of care will be measured and published for the first time and patients will have a legal right to choose a health provider, including GP services.

NICE's drug approval process will also be sped up and patients will have a right to all drugs approved by the organisation.
Other proposals include free cardiovascular checks for people between the ages of 40 and 74.

There is also a commitment to no further top-down targets and every provider of NHS services will have to systematically measure, analyse and improve quality.

Lord Darzi said: 'This report will enable frontline doctors, nurses and patients - who provide and use NHS services - to put into practice their visions for high quality care.'