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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| GPs warn NHS could 'unravel' if health bill goes ahead | GPs warn NHS could 'unravel' if health bill goes ahead |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| By Branwen Jeffreys and Nick Triggle BBC News | By Branwen Jeffreys and Nick Triggle BBC News |
| The government needs to rewrite a key part of its health bill which encourages greater competition, the Royal College of GPs says. | The government needs to rewrite a key part of its health bill which encourages greater competition, the Royal College of GPs says. |
| College chairman Dr Clare Gerada said otherwise the bill risked "unravelling and dismantling" the NHS in England. | College chairman Dr Clare Gerada said otherwise the bill risked "unravelling and dismantling" the NHS in England. |
| The claims - rejected by government - come amid mounting pressure over the reforms with Lib Dems signalling they wanted to make changes to the plans. | The claims - rejected by government - come amid mounting pressure over the reforms with Lib Dems signalling they wanted to make changes to the plans. |
| MPs are also due to debate the issue in parliament on Monday. | MPs are also due to debate the issue in parliament on Monday. |
| Ministers have already agreed to a pause in the bill's progress and are currently in the process of consulting over what changes need to be made. | Ministers have already agreed to a pause in the bill's progress and are currently in the process of consulting over what changes need to be made. |
| This was announced last month after criticisms from unions, NHS managers and MPs. | This was announced last month after criticisms from unions, NHS managers and MPs. |
| Pressure for change | Pressure for change |
| The college is one of a number of organisations lobbying Downing Street directly to make changes to the draft legislation. | The college is one of a number of organisations lobbying Downing Street directly to make changes to the draft legislation. |
| There is also political pressure within the coalition following significant unease within the Liberal Democrats. | There is also political pressure within the coalition following significant unease within the Liberal Democrats. |
| The current NHS proposals were drawn up not just by the Tory Andrew Lansley but by his Lib Dem Deputy Paul Burstow. | The current NHS proposals were drawn up not just by the Tory Andrew Lansley but by his Lib Dem Deputy Paul Burstow. |
| They were reviewed and approved not just by the Conservative Oliver Letwin but by Clegg's soulmate Danny Alexander. | They were reviewed and approved not just by the Conservative Oliver Letwin but by Clegg's soulmate Danny Alexander. |
| The foreword to them was signed not just by David Cameron but by Nick Clegg too. | The foreword to them was signed not just by David Cameron but by Nick Clegg too. |
| So they are, to coin a phrase, all in it together when it comes to the NHS. | So they are, to coin a phrase, all in it together when it comes to the NHS. |
| Both Cameron and Clegg realised too late the political danger of the reforms they'd agreed to. | Both Cameron and Clegg realised too late the political danger of the reforms they'd agreed to. |
| Both are now trying to reassure voters that they are not planning to privatise the NHS and to assuage the anger of hospital consultants and nurses who fear that GPs will not fund them as generously as politicians who, down the years, have found campaigns to keep hospitals open hard to resist. | Both are now trying to reassure voters that they are not planning to privatise the NHS and to assuage the anger of hospital consultants and nurses who fear that GPs will not fund them as generously as politicians who, down the years, have found campaigns to keep hospitals open hard to resist. |
| Both know NHS reforms that go wrong could destroy their personal as well as political reputations. | Both know NHS reforms that go wrong could destroy their personal as well as political reputations. |
| Nick Clegg has warned his party will block the Health Bill unless it is altered. | Nick Clegg has warned his party will block the Health Bill unless it is altered. |
| Over the weekend he said getting the NHS reforms right was "now my number one priority" and called for guarantees there would not be "back-door privatisation". | Over the weekend he said getting the NHS reforms right was "now my number one priority" and called for guarantees there would not be "back-door privatisation". |
| He also vowed to be a "moderating" influence on the Conservatives on issues such as the NHS - a marked change in tone from the early days of the coalition government. | He also vowed to be a "moderating" influence on the Conservatives on issues such as the NHS - a marked change in tone from the early days of the coalition government. |
| The BBC has seen the 26-page analysis sent by the Royal College of GPs to the Prime Minister's office. | The BBC has seen the 26-page analysis sent by the Royal College of GPs to the Prime Minister's office. |
| Some parts of the government plans are welcomed, such as the greater involvement of GPs in buying and planning care. | Some parts of the government plans are welcomed, such as the greater involvement of GPs in buying and planning care. |
| But it also challenges the need for a greater market in healthcare and for the first time calls for the entire section on competition in the bill to be rewritten. | But it also challenges the need for a greater market in healthcare and for the first time calls for the entire section on competition in the bill to be rewritten. |
| Dr Gerada told the BBC the changes needed went far beyond any modest alterations. | Dr Gerada told the BBC the changes needed went far beyond any modest alterations. |
| She said: "I would hope that during this pause the government will reflect on what we're all saying and will rewrite the part of the bill that is actually risking the NHS and risking the NHS being unravelled irreversibly for ever." | She said: "I would hope that during this pause the government will reflect on what we're all saying and will rewrite the part of the bill that is actually risking the NHS and risking the NHS being unravelled irreversibly for ever." |
| She said one fear was that it could lead to an "insurance-type model" of healthcare with patients being charged for certain services. | |
| But Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said the priority was making sure competition worked for patients. | But Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said the priority was making sure competition worked for patients. |
| "We have been clear that we want to see competition based on quality, not on price, to deliver better results for both patients and the taxpayer," he said. | "We have been clear that we want to see competition based on quality, not on price, to deliver better results for both patients and the taxpayer," he said. |
| Shadow health secretary John Healey said: "The letter is a red card for David Cameron's NHS plans and reinforces Labour's warnings. | Shadow health secretary John Healey said: "The letter is a red card for David Cameron's NHS plans and reinforces Labour's warnings. |
| "From competition law to charging patients, GPs are making it clear they don't want the Tories' free market NHS and the Prime Minister must now make radical changes to his health plans in order to regain the trust of NHS professionals." | "From competition law to charging patients, GPs are making it clear they don't want the Tories' free market NHS and the Prime Minister must now make radical changes to his health plans in order to regain the trust of NHS professionals." |