Policy in Focus
Our Policy in Focus series takes an in-depth look at the NHS health reform agenda.
Two years ago Frontline launched its first Policy in Focus series.
The aim was to inform readers and give them the information they needed to steer their way through the changes, to use the opportunities presented to improve service-delivery and patient care and to extend their skills and practice.
Now in 2009 it seems timely to revisit the territory. What has changed over the past two years? What has happened to the then key initiatives? What new priorities are driving the agenda and what do they mean for health and well-being services in general and physiotherapy in particular?
Our first feature New Horizons sets the scene and leads into articles on:- World class commissioning: what is it and what will it mean for physiotherapists and for patients?
- Quality counts: what's prompted the new emphasis on producing evidence and measuring outcomes? How can physiotherapists engage with it and what skills do they need?
- Welfare reform: the emphasis is on self-management and support into, or back to, work for people with long-term conditions. How will this work out on the ground for physios?
- Reforms in Wales: what are the proposed changes to the structure of the NHS in Wales and what is their likely impact on services? What does it mean for physiotherapy?
- Reforms in Northern Ireland: as in Wales, the NHS in Northern Ireland is about to go through some major changes. We look at the likely results for patients and physios.
