Cameron supports NHS changes

David Cameron has lent his support to proposals for wholesale changes to be made to the NHS in England. The Prime Minister agreed to significant concessions for the organisation - including greater controls on competition and a gradual pace of change - but stated the government was not backtracking on its earlier plans.

The government's NHS alterations will focus on suggestions drafted up by the NHS Future Forum, which called for the Health Secretary to shoulder responsibility for the overall performance of the service and an increase in power for health and wellbeing boards, among other measures.

Mr Cameron said: "The fundamentals of our plans - more control to patients, more power to doctors and nurses, less bureaucracy in the NHS - they are as strong today as they've ever been."

Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State for Health, recently responded to a letter from Dr Carole Allan, Chair of the British Psychological Society's Professional Practice Board, which called for the government to discuss mental illnesses and disorders at the United Nations Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases and other international meetings.

Mr Lansley agreed such conditions require greater recognition, adding mental health issues will be a high priority on the global agenda.