Greater choice and competition in the NHS now provides a mature set of solutions whose time has come

The government’s proposals for yet another wholesale restructuring of the NHS have predominantly been greeted with scepticism by the media, the Labour opposition and NHS stake-holders. But drawing on his own experience in advising previous Labour governments, Julian Le Grand argues that Andrew Lansley’s proposals mainly represent a sensible evolution of previous strategies, while also advancing choice and competition further in key respects that have not yet been attempted.