The Bill includes the introduction of a Single Patient Record, the creation of foundation trusts and abolition of NHS England, Healthwatch England and the HSSIB.
James Murray, secretary of state for health and social care, said: ‘My priority as health secretary is to modernise the NHS and make it work better for patients. This is our 10-Year Health Plan in action — making the NHS fit for the future by building it around patients' lives, not the other way round.'
The DHSC said the Single Patient Record will lower NHS costs by over £20m a year by reducing medication errors, save around 500,000 doctor hours and cut A&E visits and hospital admissions by 20,000 and 6,000, respectively.
The NHS Modernisation Bill second reading comes on the day John Browett is appointed chair of NHS's groundbreaking new online hospital trust was named.
Reaction
The launch of the debate on the legislation receive a mixed response with RCN general secretary and chief executive Professor Nicola Ranger describing the proposal to remove the legal requirement for a registered nurse on NHS Foundation Trust as a brazen attack on patient safety.
UNISON head of health Helga Pile called on the Government to rule out US tech company Palantir from developing the Single Patient Record due to links with the Israel military and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of The King's Fund said: 'Done well, a Single Patient Record could help reduce duplication, improve safety, save staff time and support more personalised care.'
However, Woolnough said success will depend on implementation, public trust and ensuring robust safeguards are in place around privacy, consent and the use of patient data.
Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor, chair of the Local Government Association's Health and Wellbeing Committee, said the proposals for disband Healthwatch risked the NHS and Government ‘being seen to mark their own homework'.
Cllr Taylor added: ‘We call on the Government to pause and work with local government and partners to develop a clear and workable model for local patient and public voice that maintains independence, joins up insight across health and social care, and delivers meaningful accountability.'
