02/02/2012

Gov Has 'Listened To Peers' On Health Bill

The Government has said it has listened to peers over it's highly controversial Health bill, as it prepares to enter the House of Lords for a second time next week.

The bill has attracted wide criticism over its proposed reforms to the NHS that would see increased competition and major adjustments to the management structures.

The Department of Health said the Government had listened to peers, and was coming forward with amendments to further strengthen its plans to "safeguard the future of the NHS".

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “The principles of our modernisation plans – 'no decision about me, without me' for patients, clinical leadership with doctors and nurses leading discussions on services, a focus on results for patients and reducing bureaucracy – have always been at the core of the Bill."

However, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham called on David Cameron to put the "discredited bill" out of its "misery".

“Only minutes after David Cameron claimed professional support for his Health Bill today at Prime Minister’s Questions, yet another prestigious Royal College comes out in opposition to the Government’s plans and labels them 'fundamentally flawed'."

“David Cameron promised to listen to the professionals and protect the NHS, but he is now in serious danger of breaching professional and public trust. People would respect him more if he put the NHS first and put this discredited Bill out of its misery.”

(DW/GK)

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