This report finds that reforms made to the NHS following the Health and Social Care Act of 2012 have impacted upon its ability to deal effectively with a possible flu pandemic.
It highlights three potential problems which the new NHS now faces in dealing with a possible pandemic:
- a loss of expertise, personal relationships and institutional memory in dealing with public health emergencies from within the NHS as a result of the 2012 reforms;
- the lack of clear accountability arrangements and a ‘clear line of sight’ under the new system; and
- the co-ordination of increasing numbers of private providers of NHS services in a health care system underpinned by contracts.
Getting behind the curve? Is the NHS ready for pandemic flu?
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