Internal NHS market to end?

Adrian Masters The Politics Show Wales

Is a fundamental change due for the NHS in Wales?

A One Wales document sets out the aims of the Labour-Plaid coalition government being committed to ending the internal market in the NHS. Is this the way forward?

Do you remember how controversial the Assembly Government's planned shake-up of Wales' hospital network proved to be in the run up to the May 2007 election?

And how talk of re-organisation always sends shivers down the spines of health professionals - even if it is not always immediately clear how these things affect patients on waiting lists?

Well it seems clear to me that a major re-organisation is underway in the Welsh NHS right now.

Jane Hutt was instrumental in setting up the original NHS structure

It is happening quietly and bit by bit, but it is happening nevertheless, and when complete, it looks like representing the complete dismantling of the structure set up by former Health Secretary Jane Hutt.

Every other week, we hear of merger plans amongst the health trusts which run the hospitals and other services, a process that has to end with a smaller number of "super-trusts".

Simplification

Now it seems, the other part of the structure, the local health boards, are about to change or disappear.

The current health minister, Edwina Hart, has admitted as much in a question and answer session with patients' group Hafal.

She told them that there are too many commissioning bodies and that the government is committed to simplifying the system.

What she is talking about are the 22 local health boards and her comments put their future in doubt.

In fact, their days were already numbered.

The One Wales document setting out the aims of the Labour-Plaid coalition government is committed to ending the internal market in the NHS and the LHBs are the embodiment of that internal market.

We will hear concerns about this move and talk about the quiet revolution in our NHS in this week's programme.

Pakistan report...

We will also be getting an update - phone lines willing - from Pakistan where the Plaid Cymru AM, Mohammed Ashgar is with former PM Benazir Bhutto.

Plaid Cymru AM, Mohammed Ashgar was with Benazir Bhutto at the time of the explosions

As you will have heard in news coverage throughout the week, he has had a narrow escape in the Kashmir bombings - I will see how he is and what his thoughts are at the end of a shocking week.

The Politics Show

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The Politics Show - we aim to get closer to your community with our presenter, Adrian Masters.

The Politics Show team on Sunday 21 October 2007 at 12:00 BST on BBC One.

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