According to the white paper, "Working for Patients," the proposed reform of the NHS is designed to produce a leaner, fitter NHS that offers shorter waiting lists and greater customer choice. New management systems are designed to reduce the waiting lists for "cold" surgery, i.e., nonemergency work which can be done at a convenient time and place. These systems will be applied to other areas within the NHS to which they are inappropriate. The fate of chronically ill patients, especially those subject to unpredictable and possibly expensive relapses, is of concern. The proposed reforms most likely to impact drug treatment concern hospital services and general practice. Health authorities will contract with newly independent hospitals to provide set services for their catchment populations. Services offering clear revenue-earning potential will become more attractive. Long-term care for the mentally ill and chronically sick may hold less attraction as a source of revenue. The proposals will allow larger general-practitioner practices to take control of their own budgets, including allocations for the drugs they prescribe and the hospital services to which they refer patients. General practitioners with their own budgets may be reluctant to treat drug abusers. An advantage is that under the new program, the government will mandate core services to be provided locally. This offers the opportunity for drug-treatment advocacy groups to lobby the government to include drug treatment in the core services. 6 footnotes.