Publications policy and guidance

Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS

The NHS White Paper, Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS, sets out the Government's long-term vision for the future of the NHS.  The vision builds on the core values and principles of the NHS - a comprehensive service, available to all, free at the point of use, based on need, not ability to pay. 

It sets out how we will:

• put patients at the heart of everything the NHS does;
• focus on continuously improving those things that really matter to patients - the outcome of their healthcare; and
• empower and liberate clinicians to innovate, with the freedom to focus on improving healthcare services

The Department is consulting on elements of these proposals.  Details on how to respond can be found in the White Paper.

• Download White Paper: Equity and excellence - Liberating the NHS (PDF, 339K)
• Download analytical strategy for the White Paper and associated documents (PDF, 117K)
• Download White Paper in large print (PDF, 732K)
• Download initial equality impact assessment (PDF, 150K)
• Secretary of State's statement to the House of Commons, 12 July 2010
• Press release, 12 July 2010
• DH draft Structural Reform Plan
• Consultation (closing 11 October 2010): Transparency in outcomes: a framework for the NHS
• Consultation (closing 11 October 2010): Increasing democratic legitimacy in health
• Consultation (closing 11 October 2010): Liberating the NHS: commissioning for patients
• Consultation (closing 11 October 2010): Liberating the NHS: regulating healthcare providers
• Liberating the NHS: Report of the arms-length bodies review
• Leaflet: Improving your NHS: what can you expect?