The new coalition government of the United Kingdom (UK) has announced plans to change the NHS radically in England. The Department of Health has published two important documents – Equity and excellence: liberating the NHS and Liberating the NHS: commissioning for patients. The implications for primary and secondary care, and for local authorities, mental health services and community providers, will be enormous. The changes are taking place at a rapid pace and every manager and clinician in the NHS will need to keep abreast of developments as they will affect the way in which we all deliver services in the future.
