Following the May 2010 general election and the formation of the coalition Government, a five year programme for partnership government entitled The Coalition: our programme for government (PFG) was released by Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. The online version of the document invited members of the public to comment on the contents of the programme and over 9,500 people responded.

The document below contains the Department of Health response to the public’s comments on the NHS. The response is based on the top three issues raised by the public: the need to reduce bureaucracy, the argument that not all targets are inappropriate and questions regarding how GP commissioning will work.

Please note: DH is only responsible for the NHS in England.

• Download response (PDF, 36K)
• Public comments on the NHS (opens new window)
• Video response from Oliver Letwin and Danny Alexander (opens new window)
• All government responses to public comments (opens new window)

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/Publicati...

Government departments have today published their responses to comments made by the public on the Coalition’s Programme for Government.

More than 9,500 comments were published on the website debating subjects as diverse as climate change, foreign policy and badger culling.

• Read The Coalition: our programme for Government
• Read the Government’s responses

The relevant department has published a response to the comments for each section explaining the government’s position on the most popular subjects and setting out the next steps in realising the Programme’s vision.

Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said:

“The response has been fantastic and I’m pleased to see people have really engaged with this process”

“I hope people will see that this is different, it’s a permanent change to the way we run government, and that it is worthwhile engaging in this kind of process in the future. It’s important for us in government to remember we don’t have all the answers.”

Oliver Letwin, Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, said:

“At last, government has realised that there are 60 million citizens who really do have ideas. Through processes like this, we can give real power to the people and make things open.”

The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister launched the government’s five-year policy programme in May.

http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2010/07/government-responds-...