NHS on a new path

This month the NHS undergoes the biggest reorganisation in its 65-year history yet many healthcare professionals are still unclear about what it all means. Katrina Venerus, managing director of LOCSU, takes us through the main changes.

Who makes decisions and who spends the money are at the heart of the changes taking place in the NHS which have led to new organisations being created and others abolished. The legal responsibility for managing most of the NHS budget will be handed over to these new organisations. Local councils are also being given a bigger role in influencing health services.

On paper the NHS now looks very different. Although patients will not immediately see much difference, for optical practices, their employees, and the local optical committees (LOCs) the changes will be more apparent.