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-17169519
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| NHS changes are a 'mess', says former chief executive | NHS changes are a 'mess', says former chief executive |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A former chief executive of the NHS says the government's proposals for the health service in England are a "mess," "confused" and "will set the NHS back." | A former chief executive of the NHS says the government's proposals for the health service in England are a "mess," "confused" and "will set the NHS back." |
| Lord Crisp was the NHS chief executive and the permanent secretary at the Department of Health between 2000 and 2006. | Lord Crisp was the NHS chief executive and the permanent secretary at the Department of Health between 2000 and 2006. |
| The NHS plans will be debated next week by peers, who have called for changes. | The NHS plans will be debated next week by peers, who have called for changes. |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband has urged Lib Dem peers to help kill off the government's controversial health bill. | Labour leader Ed Miliband has urged Lib Dem peers to help kill off the government's controversial health bill. |
| Lord Crisp, who sits in the Lords as an independent, told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend: "I think it's a mess is my straightforward view of it. I think it's unnecessary in many ways, and I think it misses the point. | |
| "The point is that it should be setting out the direction of travel of the NHS - which is more community, more prevention-based and it should identify the mechanisms for using that which would obviously include some competition, some use of the private sector, but much greater emphasis on integration, on planning and on getting the balance right. | |
| "I think it's confused and confusing, and I think it's unfortunately setting the NHS back." | |
| He also said: "I think the great mistake that the current government has made - and I can say this as an independent and not a politician - that this is a terrible confused and confusing bill. | |
| "It has tried to elevate the ideas of competition and the use of the private sector, which are just mechanics, just mechanisms, as if they were the purpose." | |
| Earlier, Mr Miliband told the Sunday Mirror the Lib Dems risked a bigger row than that over tuition fees. | |
| Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell told the BBC all ministers - not just Health Secretary Andrew Lansley - had to "be better" at selling the reforms. | Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell told the BBC all ministers - not just Health Secretary Andrew Lansley - had to "be better" at selling the reforms. |
| It comes as 40 Conservative MPs have written to the Sunday Telegraph praising the principles of the Health and Social Care Bill, without mentioning Mr Lansley - something the newspaper suggests is a "snub" to the health secretary. | It comes as 40 Conservative MPs have written to the Sunday Telegraph praising the principles of the Health and Social Care Bill, without mentioning Mr Lansley - something the newspaper suggests is a "snub" to the health secretary. |
| The bill's proposals include giving GPs control of much of the NHS budget and opening up the health service to greater competition from the private and voluntary sector. | The bill's proposals include giving GPs control of much of the NHS budget and opening up the health service to greater competition from the private and voluntary sector. |
| 'Nothing but respect' | 'Nothing but respect' |
| International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said no-one in politics had spent as much time understanding the NHS as Mr Lansley and both he and the prime minister had a "deep and abiding love and respect" for the health service. | International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said no-one in politics had spent as much time understanding the NHS as Mr Lansley and both he and the prime minister had a "deep and abiding love and respect" for the health service. |
| He said the reforms were born out of a "total commitment" to improving the NHS at a time of increased life expectancy and rising medical costs. | He said the reforms were born out of a "total commitment" to improving the NHS at a time of increased life expectancy and rising medical costs. |
| Asked if the health secretary was being briefed against, he said: "I have nothing but respect for the work that the health secretary is doing, I think he spent five years in opposition working out how to make the NHS better. All of us, not just the health secretary, have to be better at selling these reforms." | Asked if the health secretary was being briefed against, he said: "I have nothing but respect for the work that the health secretary is doing, I think he spent five years in opposition working out how to make the NHS better. All of us, not just the health secretary, have to be better at selling these reforms." |
| But Mr Miliband stepped up his attacks on the government over the NHS plans in an article for the Sunday Mirror, in which he called on Lib Dem peers to "stand up and be counted" when the bill is debated in the House of Lords next week. | But Mr Miliband stepped up his attacks on the government over the NHS plans in an article for the Sunday Mirror, in which he called on Lib Dem peers to "stand up and be counted" when the bill is debated in the House of Lords next week. |
| 'Excellent job' | 'Excellent job' |
| There has been much uneasiness about the bill among Lib Dems. The party's president, Tim Farron, last week called for plans to open up the NHS to greater competition to be dropped entirely from the bill. | There has been much uneasiness about the bill among Lib Dems. The party's president, Tim Farron, last week called for plans to open up the NHS to greater competition to be dropped entirely from the bill. |
| Labour leader Mr Miliband said: "The Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords must join with Labour to hold David Cameron's health plans below the water line. | Labour leader Mr Miliband said: "The Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords must join with Labour to hold David Cameron's health plans below the water line. |
| "The House of Lords has the chance to puncture the arrogance of an out-of-touch prime minister who thinks he knows better than patients, nurses and doctors and persuade him to drop this bill." | "The House of Lords has the chance to puncture the arrogance of an out-of-touch prime minister who thinks he knows better than patients, nurses and doctors and persuade him to drop this bill." |
| He added: "They will betray not only the people who rely on today's NHS, but also generations to come." | He added: "They will betray not only the people who rely on today's NHS, but also generations to come." |
| The bill has passed through its Commons stages but its progress has been delayed in the Lords, despite the government tabling more than 100 amendments. Peers will continue to debate the bill next week. | The bill has passed through its Commons stages but its progress has been delayed in the Lords, despite the government tabling more than 100 amendments. Peers will continue to debate the bill next week. |
| A series of groups representing medical professionals has come out against the bill - most recently the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. | A series of groups representing medical professionals has come out against the bill - most recently the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. |
| Chancellor George Osborne told Sky News that reports suggesting Mr Lansley had "messed up" the policy were not true: "I absolutely believe we need to see the National Health Service bill through and I think Andrew Lansley is doing an excellent job as health secretary." | Chancellor George Osborne told Sky News that reports suggesting Mr Lansley had "messed up" the policy were not true: "I absolutely believe we need to see the National Health Service bill through and I think Andrew Lansley is doing an excellent job as health secretary." |