THE Government has come under more fire from North East MPs as it said it had accepted the “core” changes to its controversial NHS reforms recommended by a panel of health experts.

The Prime Minister said “we have listened, we have learned, and we are improving our plans for the NHS” as he accepted recommendations that nurses and consultants to be included on the boards of new GP groups responsible for commissioning healthcare services.

The reforms will also now see stronger safeguards against a “market free-for-all”, with the regulator Monitor required to protect patient interests and not to promote competition as an end in itself.

Additional safeguards will be made against privatisation and to prevent private companies “cherry-picking” profitable NHS business, and the Government is dropping the 2013 deadline for the introduction of commissioning groups.

Launching the Government’s response to the recommendations of the NHS Future Forum with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, Mr Cameron said he now wanted to take the reforms forward in a “spirit of unity” with NHS staff.

“The fundamentals of our plans – more control for patients, more power to doctors and nurses, and less bureaucracy in the NHS – are as strong today as they have ever been,” he said.

The Government was forced to take the unusual step of “pausing” the Health and Social Care Bill, amid widespread opposition to Mr Lansley’s reform blueprint from healthcare professionals and patient groups.