Health policies ‘too focused on NHS’

Government plans to reduce health inequalities will fail if its
public health policies remain weighted towards the NHS, according
to the King’s Fund.

The think-tank has questioned the leadership role given to the
NHS in the white paper Choosing Health.

Drawing on interviews with NHS leaders, the King’s Fund warns
that primary care trusts remain driven to prioritise acute care
over health promotion, despite a plethora of public health targets.
Recent NHS policies, such as practice-based commissioning and the
new GP contract have exacerbated this problem, it says.

• Managing for Health from www.kingsfund.org.uk