Bid to calm fears over NHS overhaul

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Health Minister Lord Darzi promised that any changes will benefit patients and be based on clinical evidence.

He also said that local people will lead decisions about the services in their areas and promised that existing services will not be withdrawn before "new and better" services replace them.

Lord Darzi started his review in July last year. More than 60,000 people have participated, including nearly 2,000 staff working in healthcare.

He said that, in the next month, every area of the country will set out its vision for future services, outlining priorities for improving health and healthcare during the next decade.

The interim report Leading Local Change comes ahead of his final report which is due to be published next month.

He said local NHS trusts would be able to "rigorously checks proposals for change to ensure they meet the highest standards".

There are fears that the shake-up will mean hospitals lose departments like maternity and cancer clinics which would be moved to specialist regional centres.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said the pledges were "positive in principle".

However Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley told the Daily Telegraph the announcement sounded "ominous".