NHS to stay controlled by the health secretary

The government is hoping to push through a new bill for the NHS and has promised that the health secretary will keep control of the organisation.

Whilst the main power will remain with Andrew Lansley the bill will devolve responsibilities to watchdogs as well as encouraging medical research. The legislation will also cut the number of health bodies so it can meet the government's target of reducing NHS administration costs.

It is the biggest shake-up of the health service since 1948 and will enable GPs to have more control over their surgeries.

However, the plans have faced stiff opposition from organisations such as the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Royal College of Nurses.

Hamish Meldrum, council chair of the BMA, said: "We agree that a degree of reform is needed if the NHS is to be sustainable in the long term but we don't need legislation to do that."