Andy Burnham's devolution plan excludes NHS, critics warn

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Daughne Taylor and John Marriott respond to the prospective new prime minister’s 10-year proposal to cede more power to regions and communities

Andy Burnham’s flagship promise to devolve power to the local level will not apply to the NHS if the current health bill passes into law in its present form ( Andy Burnham to pledge ‘good growth in every postcode’ in devolution plan, 28 June ).

Currently, NHS foundation trusts have a statutory duty to have a council of governors. These are unpaid volunteers, democratically elected from the public and staff. They exist independent of NHS management to represent local views, and they hold the vital power to appoint the chair of the trust.

However, the current health bill will remove this requirement. Under these proposals, local trusts will effectively be allowed to “mark their own homework”, while trust chairs will be appointed centrally from Whitehall. This is the absolute antithesis of Burnham’s devolution proposals.

Instead of centralisation, all trusts should have a statutory council of governors. By moving to a locally selected model rather than an elected one, this system would be significantly cheaper to run. These bodies must remain independent of NHS management, represent the public and staff, be charged with appointing trust chairs, and hold a statutory right to speak “truth to power” at board meetings.

Implementing such legislation is not just about democracy – it is a safety measure that would help prevent local NHS disasters before they are allowed to escalate.

Daughne Taylor

Chair, National Lead Governors Association

• While wishing Andy Burnham well in his one-man odyssey to put our country right, I have to caution him on apparently seeking to devolve real power and money to individuals rather than democratically accountable organisations. If he is thinking of creating even more elected mayors, he had better make sure that these individuals are up to the task. The example of our local mayors is not encouraging. However, with current budgets of around £25m each, they can’t do that much damage.

If real money and power is at play, what he should be advocating is nothing short of a federal United Kingdom, on the lines of Germany. For this to work over here, the overwhelming economic power of England over Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland needs to be diluted by the creation of six or seven English directly elected regional assemblies. This would leave the federal parliament in London responsible for a narrow portfolio, including foreign affairs, defence and economic development, with a senate, drawing its members from the regions and nations of the UK, to scrutinise legislation.

John Marriott

North Hykeham, Lincolnshire

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