On being asked how NHS could avoid system paralysis: Sir Ian: "There is an urgent timetable, you are right. The action we need to take is challenging - probably //among the most challenging in the history of the NHS - because we have to maintain the excellent results that we published in our annual report ... and we need to meet the challenge of the deficits."

"I think the picture you paint is really demanding - and on top of that we need to take forward and accelerate the healthcare reform programme. Much of that we will publish in the summer on issues such as the way forward on regulation, commissioning and provider reform. That is a really challenging agenda in anybody's book.."

On being questioned if he really believed in the merger of strategic health authority/primary care trust and if so what was the benefit?

"I very much support the direction of travel: the creation of larger PCTs; establishing a plurality of providers; involvement of the independent sector; and the creation of foundation trusts with different incentives and a stronger voice. All these are entirely the right ingredients.” "I'm keen to do that. It is right for the patients and for the NHS. But at the end of the day it is the quality of people who make a difference in any system ...

Organisational models are important because they enable certain things, but it is people in the end who will make a difference. It is important that we get as many top quality people as possible in these posts." “Larger strategic health authorities will bring benefits in terms of linking with regional government to take forward health improvement and some of the strategic challenges in the NHS."

His Opinion on the reconfigurations requiring closure of entire district general hospitals:

"I don't know the whole of the country. People will need to look for local solutions. But there will be major change in all district general hospitals. That is inesc
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