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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hewitt rejects NHS 'independence' | Hewitt rejects NHS 'independence' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The NHS is too vast for politicians to hand over to an independent board to run, the health secretary has said. | The NHS is too vast for politicians to hand over to an independent board to run, the health secretary has said. |
| Patricia Hewitt said the proposal, favoured by the British Medical Association, would turn the NHS into a "1960s nationalised industry". | Patricia Hewitt said the proposal, favoured by the British Medical Association, would turn the NHS into a "1960s nationalised industry". |
| But she said more power should be given to patients, GPs and health staff. | But she said more power should be given to patients, GPs and health staff. |
| Mrs Hewitt was heckled by a handful of "Keep our NHS public" campaigners who say the NHS is being privatised, as she gave her speech. | Mrs Hewitt was heckled by a handful of "Keep our NHS public" campaigners who say the NHS is being privatised, as she gave her speech. |
| Last year Gordon Brown was reported to favour handing over day-to-day control of the NHS to an independent board - in the same way he gave up control of interest rates to the Bank of England in 1997. | Last year Gordon Brown was reported to favour handing over day-to-day control of the NHS to an independent board - in the same way he gave up control of interest rates to the Bank of England in 1997. |
| 'Political dabbling' | 'Political dabbling' |
| And in May the British Medical Association called for an end to "constant political dabbling" in the NHS, and the establishment of a board of governors and executive management board to run the NHS. | And in May the British Medical Association called for an end to "constant political dabbling" in the NHS, and the establishment of a board of governors and executive management board to run the NHS. |
| But in a speech about the future of the health service, Mrs Hewitt told the London School of Economics: "The NHS is four times the size of the Cuban economy and more centralised. | But in a speech about the future of the health service, Mrs Hewitt told the London School of Economics: "The NHS is four times the size of the Cuban economy and more centralised. |
| I can think of no greater sanction against poor services than allowing patients to vote with their feet Patricia Hewitt | I can think of no greater sanction against poor services than allowing patients to vote with their feet Patricia Hewitt |
| "That is part of its problem, and the problem can't be solved by proposing that a modern health service be run like a 1960s nationalised industry." | "That is part of its problem, and the problem can't be solved by proposing that a modern health service be run like a 1960s nationalised industry." |
| She said a free, comprehensive NHS was "under attack" - pointing to recent comments from Doctors for Reform and the BMA. | She said a free, comprehensive NHS was "under attack" - pointing to recent comments from Doctors for Reform and the BMA. |
| But she added that NHS structures of the 1940s and 1960s were not right for the NHS now, and needed to be more "patient led", financially disciplined, well regulated with a "plurality of providers". | But she added that NHS structures of the 1940s and 1960s were not right for the NHS now, and needed to be more "patient led", financially disciplined, well regulated with a "plurality of providers". |
| NHS constitution | NHS constitution |
| She denied creating a "free market" within the NHS, but said that competitive pressure could create "startling results for patients". | She denied creating a "free market" within the NHS, but said that competitive pressure could create "startling results for patients". |
| "I can think of no greater sanction against poor services than allowing patients to vote with their feet," she added. | "I can think of no greater sanction against poor services than allowing patients to vote with their feet," she added. |
| She also said that she backed an NHS constitution, which could cover behaviour expected of NHS patients and people's personal responsibility for their own health. | She also said that she backed an NHS constitution, which could cover behaviour expected of NHS patients and people's personal responsibility for their own health. |
| Heckling | Heckling |
| Mrs Hewitt was repeatedly interrupted as she answered her speech by protester Shirley Murgraft, 76, and Lois Austin. | Mrs Hewitt was repeatedly interrupted as she answered her speech by protester Shirley Murgraft, 76, and Lois Austin. |
| Gordon Brown can only get what patients want by having a fight with the doctors BBC political editor Nick Robinson class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2007/06/browns_nhs_dile.html">Read Nick's thoughts in full They said that increased pressure on beds and waiting times meant more patients were being forced home early, when they had not properly recovered. | |
| Protesters also stood outside with banners reading "SOS NHS" and "NHS not for sale". | Protesters also stood outside with banners reading "SOS NHS" and "NHS not for sale". |
| Among them was Eileen Smith, 75, a former NHS clinical nurse manager, who was concerned about the scrapping of patients' watchdog the Community Health Councils and the lack of inspection rights in private hospitals. | Among them was Eileen Smith, 75, a former NHS clinical nurse manager, who was concerned about the scrapping of patients' watchdog the Community Health Councils and the lack of inspection rights in private hospitals. |
| "I believe healthcare should depend on need and not put profits into people's pockets," she said. | "I believe healthcare should depend on need and not put profits into people's pockets," she said. |