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Government offers NHS bill concessions Government offers NHS bill concessions
(about 21 hours later)
The government is to promise the health secretary will keep ultimate control over the NHS in England, as it pushes for Parliament to pass its NHS bill. The government has promised the health secretary will keep ultimate control over the NHS in England, as it pushes for Parliament to pass its health bill.
The legislation, which would bring a fundamental reorganisation of the service, has encountered opposition from peers and various groups.The legislation, which would bring a fundamental reorganisation of the service, has encountered opposition from peers and various groups.
But ministers will later table amendments aimed at quelling unrest. But ministers have published amendments aimed at quelling unrest.
These will include giving more powers to the health watchdog and doing more to encourage medical research. These include giving more powers to a new health watchdog and doing more to encourage medical research.
Labour peers believe there have been significant concessions on research and education but are unlikely to be appeased over more controversial issues around competition and the watchdog's role, the BBC understands.
Through the Health and Social Care Bill, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is proposing the biggest shake-up since the NHS was founded in 1948.Through the Health and Social Care Bill, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is proposing the biggest shake-up since the NHS was founded in 1948.
'Backdoor privatisation''Backdoor privatisation'
Under the plans, groups of GPs will take charge of much of the NHS budget from managers working for primary care trusts, while more competition with the private sector will be encouraged.Under the plans, groups of GPs will take charge of much of the NHS budget from managers working for primary care trusts, while more competition with the private sector will be encouraged.
The British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nurses and the Royal College of Midwives have all opposed the proposals, with some critics claiming they are unworkable and amount to "backdoor privatisation". On Wednesday, the government said it wanted to give GPs " a full spectrum of options" in how they use funds, so they can decide when and if to ask private companies and charities to compete with the NHS to care for patients.
Mr Lansley said the core principles of the plans had been widely accepted.
But he added: "We have been carefully listening to the ideas raised as the bill has progressed through Parliament. We have today tabled a series of amendments to address these remaining issues."
The British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nurses and the Royal College of Midwives had all opposed the proposals, with some critics claiming they are unworkable and amount to "backdoor privatisation".
This led Prime Minister David Cameron to "pause" the proposed shake-up in April last year.This led Prime Minister David Cameron to "pause" the proposed shake-up in April last year.
The bill returns to the House of Lords next week and the government is publishing several amendments aimed at bolstering support. The bill returns to the House of Lords next week and the government's amendments are aimed at bolstering support.
One states that the health regulator, Monitor, will have the power to require that healthcare providers supply "integrated services". For instance, hospitals would have to work more closely with district terms after patients are discharged. One states that the health regulator, Monitor, will have the power to require that healthcare providers supply "integrated services", where competition may not be in patients' interests.
Another stipulates that medical research should be a "core function" of the NHS, to allow it to keep pace with foreign competitors For instance, hospitals would have to work more closely with district teams after patients are discharged.
And another amendment promises patients a greater say in how health services are commissioned. Patient power
Another stipulates that medical research should be a "core function" of the NHS, to allow it to keep pace with foreign competitors.
The remaining amendments promise patients a greater say in how health services are commissioned and impose a new duty on the health secretary and NHS commissioners to report progress in tackling health inequalities.
In a further effort to appease critics concerned about accountability, an amendment will "explicitly clarify that the secretary of state retains ministerial responsibility to Parliament for the provision of the health service in England".In a further effort to appease critics concerned about accountability, an amendment will "explicitly clarify that the secretary of state retains ministerial responsibility to Parliament for the provision of the health service in England".
On the ground, changes are already being made to pave the way for the new system provided by the NHS bill to start in 2013. Changes are already being made to pave the way for the new system provided by the NHS bill to start in 2013.