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Fightback begins over NHS plans Fightback begins over NHS plans
(40 minutes later)
By Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC NewsBy Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC News
The government will attempt to wrestle back the initiative on its NHS shake-up in England by launching a "listening exercise" later.The government will attempt to wrestle back the initiative on its NHS shake-up in England by launching a "listening exercise" later.
Prime Minister David Cameron will be joined by his deputy Nick Clegg and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley at the start of the two-month push.Prime Minister David Cameron will be joined by his deputy Nick Clegg and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley at the start of the two-month push.
They will aim to present a united front amid widespread criticism about plans.They will aim to present a united front amid widespread criticism about plans.
The BBC understands they will rule out any U-turn, arguing change is necessary to ensure the NHS can meet demands.The BBC understands they will rule out any U-turn, arguing change is necessary to ensure the NHS can meet demands.
They will say that while the health budget has been protected, the service still needs to make savings to keep pace with the rising pressures from factors such as the ageing population and cost of drugs.They will say that while the health budget has been protected, the service still needs to make savings to keep pace with the rising pressures from factors such as the ageing population and cost of drugs.
They have also enlisted Professor Steve Field, the former chairman of the Royal College of GPs, to head up the initiative.They have also enlisted Professor Steve Field, the former chairman of the Royal College of GPs, to head up the initiative.
Under the government's overhaul of the NHS, GPs are to be given control of much of the budget - allowing two tiers of management to be scrapped.Under the government's overhaul of the NHS, GPs are to be given control of much of the budget - allowing two tiers of management to be scrapped.
The NHS is also to be opened up to greater competition.The NHS is also to be opened up to greater competition.
On Monday, Mr Lansley told the House of Commons he wanted to engage with people about the changes before the bill underpinning the reforms returns to Parliament in late spring.On Monday, Mr Lansley told the House of Commons he wanted to engage with people about the changes before the bill underpinning the reforms returns to Parliament in late spring.
The government has already acknowledged it is willing to make amendments.The government has already acknowledged it is willing to make amendments.
But ministers - particularly at the Department of Health - still believe some of the reforms are being misunderstood.But ministers - particularly at the Department of Health - still believe some of the reforms are being misunderstood.
During the next few months they will seek to convince people that the programme does not amount to the privatisation of the health service that some have claimed.During the next few months they will seek to convince people that the programme does not amount to the privatisation of the health service that some have claimed.
In particular, they will stress that the April 2013 deadline is not an absolute cut-off.In particular, they will stress that the April 2013 deadline is not an absolute cut-off.
Instead, the national board, which will be headed by NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson, will have powers to take control of local services where GP consortia are judged to be not up to scratch.Instead, the national board, which will be headed by NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson, will have powers to take control of local services where GP consortia are judged to be not up to scratch.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Clegg said the government was serious about listening to the concerns.Speaking to the BBC, Mr Clegg said the government was serious about listening to the concerns.
"It is not just a question of presentation. This is also a question of making substantive changes to the legislation at the end of this two-month process.""It is not just a question of presentation. This is also a question of making substantive changes to the legislation at the end of this two-month process."
He said changes would be made to the governance of GP consortia and to ensure that private companies do not 'cherrypick' the most profitable parts of the NHS.He said changes would be made to the governance of GP consortia and to ensure that private companies do not 'cherrypick' the most profitable parts of the NHS.
One option being seriously considered is the idea of inviting other experts to get involved in the consortia.One option being seriously considered is the idea of inviting other experts to get involved in the consortia.
This was proposed by the House of Commons' health committee on Tuesday.This was proposed by the House of Commons' health committee on Tuesday.
'PR stunt' criticism'PR stunt' criticism
The cross-party group of MPs said involving the likes of hospital doctors, public health chiefs and councillors would improve accountability and decision-making.The cross-party group of MPs said involving the likes of hospital doctors, public health chiefs and councillors would improve accountability and decision-making.
But the listening exercise has been criticised by Labour.But the listening exercise has been criticised by Labour.
Shadow health secretary John Healey said: "The test now is whether David Cameron will recognise the very wide concerns and respond with radical surgery to the health bill."Shadow health secretary John Healey said: "The test now is whether David Cameron will recognise the very wide concerns and respond with radical surgery to the health bill."
But he added that he remained doubtful, suggesting that the government had failed to listen during the official consultation on the changes and during debates in Parliament.But he added that he remained doubtful, suggesting that the government had failed to listen during the official consultation on the changes and during debates in Parliament.
"The pause looks suspiciously like a PR stunt to quell the coalition of criticism.""The pause looks suspiciously like a PR stunt to quell the coalition of criticism."


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I genuinly wish the government well but Cameron, before the election, promised not to do what he is now doing. He therefore cannot complain if people doubt his intentions. This is a pity but as a rich kid many people, unfairly perhaps, don't see him as a P.M with much experience of life behind him. As a P.M.he may well be ''broken on the wheel'' of the N.H.S. reoganisation. The only reason we have so large a management structure is to manage the constant change imposed by government, if the NHS was left alone with a long term plan, it would be allowed to become efficient rather than provide a series of short term vote gains. The cost of £2-4 bn will not be covered by efficiency savings as trusts are struggling to find them without cutting services.
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    • When the government manage to lay out both their plans in detail AND the arguments supporting them, then we - not just the medics but all of us - can decide if we are willing to accept them or not. Until then, all we have is the usual medicore mouthings that pass for contemporary politics, unconvincing in the extreme. There is nothing wrong with the current NHS structure. We just need to look at the current staffing levels and remove any uncessary bean-counters and wasters. The Tories are seeing this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to push massive funds into the private sector. This will be a disaster as GPs cant handle the workload - it will all go to private management companies who will fleece us.
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    • Perhaps they government should consider making private medical insurance / healthcare tax deductible - it would encourage more people to take it up and reduce some of the strain / cost on the NHS? My wife is a senior nurse at one of the NHS's (indeed the World's) best Hospitals.In common with Her senior Medical Counterparts and associated clinical specialists were dismayed that Budget for Hospital based care should be purely at the whim of GP's.Most GP's frankly become so for financial reasons (it pays on average 100% more than being a Hospital based Doctor).This must change.
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  • class="dna-comment" id="comment_107863564"> class="comments_user_info secondary_body"> 39. eLaReF
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    By systematically removing performance measures; "to ease the admin burden", the government have effectively hidden the degradation of NHS services due to these ill thought out cuts. Andrew Lansley got £21K from the chair of CareUK (first private company given a contract to run a hospital) he was also a director for Profero which has Bayer Healthcare as a major client.Beware the weasel words
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    • What's the point of a 'listening exercise' if they're 'ruling out any U-turn'!!!??? Yet another political con to try and fool us all.
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