03/01/2012

Government Urged To 'Give In' On NHS Reform

The Opposition is calling on the Government to halt its attempts at reforming the NHS, saying its efforts so far had failed.

Speaking on Tuesday morning, Labour's Andy Burnham said the time had come for the Government to "give in" over its proposals to introduce competition for the Health Service, adding that the re-organisation had "no democratic legitimacy".

"Even at this late stage, I urge him to listen to what people are saying: put the NHS first and drop this unwanted and unnecessary Bill,' Mr Burnham said. He added: "This re-organisation is destabilising a system that is desperately craving stability so it can focus on the more urgent task in hand – safely navigating the financial challenge. The very last thing it needs is to be turned upside down."

The Labour minister said he would repeat his offer to work with the Government to deliver greater clinical involvement in commissioning and to work together to agree a stability plan for the NHS.

"The change the NHS needs is service reform not structural reform. The latter only sets back that more urgent task.

"But this isn’t just bad timing. These are the wrong reforms at any time," Mr Burnham added.

(DW)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

15 December 2010
Government NHS Reform Plans 'On Track'
The Government is to go ahead with radical changes to the NHS in England. Following a public consultation, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said the reform agenda was "on track" despite health union concerns. By 2013 Primary Care Trusts are to be abolished, when GPs will plan hospital care and manage budgets to accomodate it.
16 March 2012
Royal College of Physicians Reject NHS Reform Bill
More than two thirds of Royal College of Physicians (RCP) members reject the NHS reform bill, a survey has found. Carried out by the RCP the survey was completed by almost 9,000 of its members. However, it also reveals a split on how to proceed.
21 February 2012
NHS Reform Backlash Sees Conservative's Lead Shrink
A backlash against David Cameron's proposed NHS reforms has lead to a drop in voter support of 4% for the Conservative Party, with Labour seeing a 2% increase. In a survey by the ICM, a 52% majority of respondents say the bill should be dropped with only 33% wanting the plan to go ahead.
27 June 2005
Doctors urged to ‘make voices heard’ in NHS reform
Doctors must be involved in NHS reforms in order for them to work efficiently, the chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) said.
26 March 2007
'Postcode lottery' remains in NHS dental care
There are "huge regional variations" in NHS dental care in England, consumer organisation Which? has warned in new research. The survey of 466 dentistry practices - which comes a year after the start of new NHS dentists' contract in England - found that just over a third (36%) are taking on any new NHS patients.