A report from the think tank Reform by Professor Paul Corrigan has claimed that up to 40 hospitals will fail by 2013 without radical reform of their working practices, and that Britain could face a £5bn bill to rescue the trusts.
In response, Health Minister Simon Burns said:
“Few now deny the NHS must change to meet future challenges.
“But we believe the NHS should be the opposite of a factory-style operation and instead offer patients high quality, tailored care.
“That is why our plan gives freedom and control to doctors and nurses, puts patients at the heart of everything it does and safeguards the future of our health service.”