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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| NHS bill: Lib Dem peers urge rewrite ahead of Lords debate | NHS bill: Lib Dem peers urge rewrite ahead of Lords debate |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords are launching a new attempt to rewrite the government's controversial plans for the NHS in England. | Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords are launching a new attempt to rewrite the government's controversial plans for the NHS in England. |
| The peers have drawn up amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill, which returns to the Lords for debate later. | The peers have drawn up amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill, which returns to the Lords for debate later. |
| They want to scrap plans to allow the Competition Commission to review the development of competition in the NHS. | They want to scrap plans to allow the Competition Commission to review the development of competition in the NHS. |
| It came as members of the Royal College of Surgeons forced an extraordinary meeting on its support for the bill. | It came as members of the Royal College of Surgeons forced an extraordinary meeting on its support for the bill. |
| Thirty one members have asked for the meeting, to be held on 8 March, to consider the college's position. It is the latest of the previously supportive groups to meet to discuss their support or to change their position. | Thirty one members have asked for the meeting, to be held on 8 March, to consider the college's position. It is the latest of the previously supportive groups to meet to discuss their support or to change their position. |
| The Royal College of Physicians - hospital doctors - are holding a meeting later on Monday to decide whether to ballot their members and at the end of last week the Royal College of Paediatrics, who also attended last week's No 10 summit, withdrew their support. | The Royal College of Physicians - hospital doctors - are holding a meeting later on Monday to decide whether to ballot their members and at the end of last week the Royal College of Paediatrics, who also attended last week's No 10 summit, withdrew their support. |
| The only royal college which is now not consulting on, or opposed to, the bill is the Royal College of Obstetricians. | The only royal college which is now not consulting on, or opposed to, the bill is the Royal College of Obstetricians. |
| The Health and Social Care Bill gives GPs control of much of the NHS budget and would open up the health service to greater competition from the private and voluntary sector. | The Health and Social Care Bill gives GPs control of much of the NHS budget and would open up the health service to greater competition from the private and voluntary sector. |
| The government says its plans will modernise the NHS, improve services and reinvest savings in front-line care. | The government says its plans will modernise the NHS, improve services and reinvest savings in front-line care. |
| It has completed its Commons stages but is having a difficult passage through the House of Lords and is being opposed by many groups representing medical professionals. | It has completed its Commons stages but is having a difficult passage through the House of Lords and is being opposed by many groups representing medical professionals. |
| 'Drop the bill' | 'Drop the bill' |
| Liberal Democrat concerns about the government's plans for the NHS in England helped lead to a pause in the health bill's progress, and several amendments. | Liberal Democrat concerns about the government's plans for the NHS in England helped lead to a pause in the health bill's progress, and several amendments. |
| Last week party president Tim Farron called for the whole section dealing with increased competition to be dropped. | Last week party president Tim Farron called for the whole section dealing with increased competition to be dropped. |
| Now, Lib Dem peers also want a requirement put in place for Foundation Trusts to get permission from their governors before carrying out extra private work. | Now, Lib Dem peers also want a requirement put in place for Foundation Trusts to get permission from their governors before carrying out extra private work. |
| Baroness Jolly, chair of the party's parliamentary health committee, said it was their intention to improve the bill not to delay it or kill it off altogether. | |
| "We are not doing anything sneaky or last-minute," she told Radio Four's World at One. "The government are completely aware of these amendments". | |
| On the issue of competition, she said it could improve patient care in certain areas but would be damaging in others and Lib Dems did not believe the NHS "should be treated like gas, electricity or some other utility". | |
| 'Evolution' | |
| Downing Street say that they do not see the need for any "significant changes" but they indicated on Monday they would not seek to overturn amendments which sought to "clarify" aspects of the legislation. | |
| Health minister Simon Burns told the BBC it was right that the Lords had a "full discussion" about the bill but "the government and cabinet as a whole" fully supported it. | |
| "What is being proposed is the best opportunity for the NHS to continue to be able to evolve to meet the challenges of an ageing population, a huge increase in the drugs bill and advances in medical science which means patients are being treated more effectively and those with long-term conditions looked after better," he said. | |
| He added: "Competition in the NHS is not a new thing, it has been going on for a long time. What is important is that it is not competition on price, it is competition on quality." | |
| Writing in the Times, Labour leader Ed Miliband renewed his call for the government to drop a bill which he says would create a "vast structure of Byzantine complexity". | |
| He wrote: "Even at this late stage the government should drop the bill and adopt an approach that will drive the reforms that the NHS really needs." | He wrote: "Even at this late stage the government should drop the bill and adopt an approach that will drive the reforms that the NHS really needs." |
| Labour peers are expected to force two key votes on the health bill in the Lords on Monday - one on the potential conflict of interests between the commissioning boards' financial and medical interests and one on an "integrated" NHS and providing a unified health service. | Labour peers are expected to force two key votes on the health bill in the Lords on Monday - one on the potential conflict of interests between the commissioning boards' financial and medical interests and one on an "integrated" NHS and providing a unified health service. |