THE controversial shake-up of the NHS will cut out ‘needless bureaucracy’ it has been claimed.

The Department of Health said the Health and Social Care Bill, which could be made law within weeks, will hand power to the people who know their patients best – doctors and nurses.

It comes after 24 GP practices – the Oxford City Locality Commissioning Group – wrote to the Oxford Mail warning the move will harm patient care.

The Bill gives GPs and other clinicians more responsibility for spending the NHS budget in England.

It will see primary care trusts dismantled and responsibilities taken up by commissioning groups of health care professionals.

The provision of healthcare will also be opened up to ‘any willing provider’ including the private sector and charities.

The Department of Health said: “Without the Bill, doctors and nurses will always run the risk of having their decisions second-guessed by the managers running primary care trusts. The Bill cuts out this needless bureaucracy and hands control for care over to those who know their patients best – the doctors and nurses throughout the NHS.”