Media finally expose problems over the NHS Bill


by Sunny Hundal    
9:30 am - February 12th 2012

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While most journalists are interested in the Sun corruption allegations from yesterday – I suspect most of Westminster will be talking about the NHS bill and the fall from this week.

The Daily Mail has gone on the attack – putting the NHS on the front page, but following up with a damaging, vicious article by Nadine Dorries.

It also publishes this damning article – The firm that hijacked the NHS: MoS investigation reveals extent of international management consultant’s role in Lansley’s health reforms – based on FOI work by Tamasin Cave from Spinwatch.

Many of the Bill’s proposals were drawn up by McKinsey and included in the legislation wholesale. One document says the firm has used its privileged access to ‘share information’ with its corporate clients – which include the world’s biggest private hospital firms – who are now set to bid for health service work.

Can it get any worse?

The Sunday Times features an article by Cameron saying he’s “at one” with Lansley on the bill. He refuses to drop it.

Andrew Rawnsley in The Observer points out why Cameron won’t back down:

The word from inside Number 10 is that he is still determined to bash on. I’m told that the prime minister has been persuaded that it is simply “too late” to put the brakes on now because GP consortiums and other institutional changes are already being put in place in anticipation that the legislation will pass.
…
Another reason for the prime minister’s refusal to change tack is a personal one. He fears that giving way to the opposition would make him look feeble.

Both points are spot on. Cameron won’t back down. He won’t want to look like he’s backing down either.

But The Observer also has this – Tories fear row over health bill may ‘retoxify’ party on NHS – writing about a new poll showing growing public concern over the NHS bill.

The Independent on Sunday reports:

Almost two years in the making, the once eye-catching plan to take the axe to the NHS’s bloated bureaucracy and hand power to family doctors has become a metaphor for Mr Cameron’s worst failings as Prime Minister – lack of attention to detail, a hands-off management style, misplaced loyalty to old friends and a deep-rooted belief that shouting at the Despatch Box will silence one’s critics.

Sounds about right. In an interview, Andy Burnham repeats that Labour would repeal as much of the NHS bill as possible once back in power.

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About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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Reader comments


1. Cylux

It is nice to see the right wing form a circular firing squad.

2. Bob B

I’ve been a regular critic here of the NHS but that doesn’t equate to supporting Lansley’s costly proposed reforms when the NHS is being called upon to make £20bn “efficiency savings”, amounting to nearly 20 pc of its budget.

Cameron is quoted in the media as saying the reforms are needed to give greater choice to patients and improve treatments. If so, how come waiting-times for treatment have soared according to recent press reports?

Number of NHS patients missing waiting-time target soars

Total waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment has risen by 43% since coalition came to power
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/19/patients-missing-nhs-waiting-time-target

A day or so ago, the FT reported that “NIck Clegg has reacted furiously to reports that three Conservative cabinet ministers have been lobbying against the government’s health bill, amid fears the issue could split the LibDems at the spring conference . . . ”

According to the report, the reason that Nick Clegg is so cross is because he “has spent months trying to persuade his party to support the health reforms . . . . ” Now we know.

3. Sally

Lovely, so the prime Minister is going to sell off the NHS to avoid looking weak.

He lied to the people when he used his lizard charm to con the public into believing the tories had changed. Even using his dying child as an electoral prop to con the public that he understood the NHS.

All the time however he appointed a jackal as health secretary whos wife has a huge financial interest is flogging off the NHS. It was already to go assuming the tories won an out right victory. But they did not win. However it did not matter because the dishonest Lie Dems, having run to the left of labour, jumped to save the torie. Asking only for a pathetic referendum on a voting system they did not want in exchange.

And all the while the American private health industry waits like a crocodile in the swamp waiting for the kill. The govt appoint a well known conultants, who having been given access to the NHS will then pass that information to thir corporate clients so they can steal our hospitals from under us in the so called open bidding system. And politicians wonder why they are viewed lower than jornalists and etate agents. I can not put into words what I think of Clegg, I would be arrested.

4. JoshC

Illegal institutional changes can be reversed quite easily. Those who have already been TUPE’d over can be TUPE’d back just as easily.


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