Charities welcome NHS agreement

Voluntary organisations have secured an agreement with the
government that will allow them more influence over health
policy.

Voluntary sector chief executives will have a forum for
communicating to the NHS their views on policy and practice.
Standardised contracts for voluntary agencies delivering public
services will also be introduced.

Victor Adebowale, chief executive of Turning Point, said: “This
concordat will give us a powerful voice in shaping health and
social care policy, and a way of alerting the NHS to gaps in its
service .”