Attempt to challenge accountable care organisations

A judicial review challenging NHS transformation plans will be heard in the high court this week and is being supported by the BMA.

Launched by the campaigning group JR4NHS, it is challenging the legality of the Government and NHS England’s plans to allow local areas to form ACOs (accountable care organisations) which would take over the budgets and management of healthcare for a population.

JR4NHS is set to argue that the plans go against current legislation – as outlined in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 – that defines clinical commissioning groups as the organisations which plan and buy care in the NHS, and that health and social care secretary Jeremy Hunt and NHS England have failed to meet public standards on transparency and engagement.

The BMA has provided a witness statement offering support for the judicial review. The review is due to be heard on Wednesday and Thursday.