This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-politics-13786924
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Milburn calls amended NHS plans 'a car crash' | Milburn calls amended NHS plans 'a car crash' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The coalition's amended plans for the NHS in England are the "biggest car crash" in the service's history, a former health secretary has said. | The coalition's amended plans for the NHS in England are the "biggest car crash" in the service's history, a former health secretary has said. |
| Ex-MP Alan Milburn, David Cameron's social mobility adviser, said taxpayers faced writing "a very large cheque" as efficiency savings were unachievable. | Ex-MP Alan Milburn, David Cameron's social mobility adviser, said taxpayers faced writing "a very large cheque" as efficiency savings were unachievable. |
| Mr Milburn told the Daily Telegraph it was "short-term politics". | |
| A Department of Health spokesman said Gordon Brown had blocked Mr Milburn's own efforts to reform the NHS. | |
| Changes to the NHS plans followed rows between the Lib Dems and Conservatives. | Changes to the NHS plans followed rows between the Lib Dems and Conservatives. |
| The prime minister has agreed to make major concessions on his plans for the NHS in England, including more controls on competition and a slower pace of change, after criticism from Lib Dem MPs and unions. | The prime minister has agreed to make major concessions on his plans for the NHS in England, including more controls on competition and a slower pace of change, after criticism from Lib Dem MPs and unions. |
| 'Less reformist' | 'Less reformist' |
| Mr Milburn, who as health secretary under Tony Blair came into conflict with then Chancellor Gordon Brown over the running of health services, wrote in the Telegraph: "The government's health reforms are the biggest car crash in NHS history. | Mr Milburn, who as health secretary under Tony Blair came into conflict with then Chancellor Gordon Brown over the running of health services, wrote in the Telegraph: "The government's health reforms are the biggest car crash in NHS history. |
| "The temptation to elevate short-term politics above long-term policy proved too much for both David Cameron and Nick Clegg. | "The temptation to elevate short-term politics above long-term policy proved too much for both David Cameron and Nick Clegg. |
| "Many in both camps inside the coalition consider the U-turn a triumph. But it has the makings of a policy disaster for the NHS and, maybe in time, a political disaster for the government. | "Many in both camps inside the coalition consider the U-turn a triumph. But it has the makings of a policy disaster for the NHS and, maybe in time, a political disaster for the government. |
| "It leaves both health policy and British politics in a very different place." | "It leaves both health policy and British politics in a very different place." |
| He added: "The promise of the coalition was that it would go where New Labour feared to tread when it came to public service reform. There would be no no-go areas. | He added: "The promise of the coalition was that it would go where New Labour feared to tread when it came to public service reform. There would be no no-go areas. |
| "In fact David Cameron's retreat has taken his party to a far less reformist and more protectionist position than that adopted by Tony Blair and even that of his predecessor Gordon Brown." | "In fact David Cameron's retreat has taken his party to a far less reformist and more protectionist position than that adopted by Tony Blair and even that of his predecessor Gordon Brown." |
| Mr Milburn described the new policy as the "biggest nationalisation since Nye Bevan created the NHS in 1948". | Mr Milburn described the new policy as the "biggest nationalisation since Nye Bevan created the NHS in 1948". |
| Mr Cameron had handed over control to "the daddy of all quangos", the NHS Commissioning Board. | Mr Cameron had handed over control to "the daddy of all quangos", the NHS Commissioning Board. |
| Mr Milburn said scrapping the 2013 deadline for giving GP consortia control of commissioning would result in a "patchwork of decision-making for years to come". | Mr Milburn said scrapping the 2013 deadline for giving GP consortia control of commissioning would result in a "patchwork of decision-making for years to come". |
| On the need to make £20bn in efficiency savings, he asked: "So how will the NHS books be balanced? | On the need to make £20bn in efficiency savings, he asked: "So how will the NHS books be balanced? |
| "By the usual device which policy-makers have deployed every decade or so in the NHS. A very large cheque. | "By the usual device which policy-makers have deployed every decade or so in the NHS. A very large cheque. |
| "It was precisely the situation David Cameron and George Osborne were trying to avoid. Sorry George, but the cash you were saving in your pre-election Budget for tax cuts will now have to be spent on a bail-out for the health service." | "It was precisely the situation David Cameron and George Osborne were trying to avoid. Sorry George, but the cash you were saving in your pre-election Budget for tax cuts will now have to be spent on a bail-out for the health service." |
| A Department of Health spokesman said: "Eight years ago Alan Milburn tried to reform the NHS but failed to deliver the progress necessary because he was blocked by Gordon Brown. | |
| "Other former Labour health ministers - and many professional bodies - support these reforms as a necessary evolution. We can't afford to miss another opportunity to improve the NHS." |