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26/10/2011
Gov 'Climb Down' Over Medical Bill Amendment
The Government is expected to make a climb down over a pivotal part of the controversial medical bill, currently being assessed in the House of Lords.
It has emerged that the Government will now accept an amendment to the Social Care Bill put forward by Lord Mackay to clarify the role of the Secretary of State as responsible for the running of the NHS.
“This is a humiliating climb-down for the Health Secretary," Labour's Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham said.
He added: “The Prime Minister’s Health Bill is in complete chaos and is unravelling before his eyes. Last week [Andrew] Lansley’s [The Health Secretary] preferred choice to run the NHS told him his Bill was 'completely unintelligible'. Now he is being forced to accept his responsibilities to run a comprehensive National Health Service.
“The Prime Minister should end this unseemly spectacle and drop his unwanted Bill."
Peers debating the controversial health bill had raised concerns about the ambiguity of the role of the health secretary under the NHS reforms.
During the debate, Lib Dem Baroness Shirley Williams said a major health emergency in the country was an example of when the secretary of state's role was unclear.
The Health and Social Care Bill continues its tough passage through the committee stage in the House of Lords having faced criticism over its proposed increase in NHS competition and move to put GP-led groups in control of buying care in their areas.
The bill has faced major opposition from health worker unions, most notably the British Medical Association.
(DW)
It has emerged that the Government will now accept an amendment to the Social Care Bill put forward by Lord Mackay to clarify the role of the Secretary of State as responsible for the running of the NHS.
“This is a humiliating climb-down for the Health Secretary," Labour's Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham said.
He added: “The Prime Minister’s Health Bill is in complete chaos and is unravelling before his eyes. Last week [Andrew] Lansley’s [The Health Secretary] preferred choice to run the NHS told him his Bill was 'completely unintelligible'. Now he is being forced to accept his responsibilities to run a comprehensive National Health Service.
“The Prime Minister should end this unseemly spectacle and drop his unwanted Bill."
Peers debating the controversial health bill had raised concerns about the ambiguity of the role of the health secretary under the NHS reforms.
During the debate, Lib Dem Baroness Shirley Williams said a major health emergency in the country was an example of when the secretary of state's role was unclear.
The Health and Social Care Bill continues its tough passage through the committee stage in the House of Lords having faced criticism over its proposed increase in NHS competition and move to put GP-led groups in control of buying care in their areas.
The bill has faced major opposition from health worker unions, most notably the British Medical Association.
(DW)
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