NHS quality reforms

Sweeping reforms of the NHS that came into operation on Thursday 1 April were designed to force up standards and ensure uniform quality of care. They were first proposed in the government's health White Paper, The New NHS. BBC News Online's health team provides analysis of the major reforms.

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NICE: A fundamental change
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is perhaps the most fundamental of the government's changes - it aims to ensure equality of access to NHS treatments.

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Mechanisms to maintain standards
Standards will be monitored in the "new NHS" through three new mechanisms.

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Blueprints for care
National Service Frameworks will set out what patients can expect to receive from the NHS in major care areas or disease groups.

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GPs lead primary care reforms
Under the new system of primary care groups, GPs, nurses and other workers will be responsible for commissioning care.

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Clinical governance to ensure quality
Doctors and other health care professionals will take on more responsibility for standards of treatment offered under proposals for tighter regulation.