Health News Blog

February 21, 2012

Debate tomorrow over Risk Register

There will be a debate and vote in the House of Commons tomorrow over whether Andrew Lansley and the Department of Health should publish the Strategic Risk Register – an internal assessment carried out by the department into the potential risk posed to the NHS by the government’s reforms.

Lansley had been ordered to publish the document by the Information Commissioner, but appealed against the decision, and the case is currently waiting to be heard by a tribunal. Publication of the document could have a decisive effect on the fate of the Health and Social Care Bill, depending on the report’s findings – which may not be good for Lansley, if four regional assessments released last week are anything to go by.

Conservative poll ratings slump on NHS fears

A poll carried out by ICM for the Guardian has revealed a 4% drop in support for the Tories since January, down from 40% to 36%. The fall is linked to public opinion of the government’s health reforms, as 52% of respondents said that they thought the Bill should be scrapped, against 33% who want the reforms to go ahead. Regarding competition in the NHS, 53% thought that it undermines the health service, while 39% said that it helps to improve standards.

Labour moved into the lead on the back of worries about health reform, rising two points to 37%, while the Lib Dems fell by two points to 14%, and ratings for all other parties rose by four points to 13%.

Guests at Cameron’s health summit go off-piste

The Guardian reports that the carefully selected invitees to yesterday’s meeting at Number 10 failed to follow their script. Despite the fact that all the groups who oppose the health reforms were excluded from the 1 hour conference, those who were present still found time to express concerns over the proposed changes to the NHS.

This was not on the tightly scripted agenda, which was only supposed to look at how the reforms are going to be implemented – the merits of the reforms themselves were not meant to be up for discussion. But this did not prevent those present from raising the serious doubts they had over the government’s plans, as Cameron and Lansley had to listen to the same concerns that would have been raised by those groups who would have liked to have been there, but weren’t invited.

Lib Dem activists make emergency call for changes to Health Bill

Activists have submitted an emergency motion for debate at the party’s spring conference calling for the section of the Bill, which refers to the extension of competition in the NHS, to be dropped. It also calls for the publication of the Strategic Risk Register before the Bill has completed its passage through the Lords.

It is uncertain whether the motion will actually be debated at the conference, as it has to be approved by the federal conference committee, and if not it then has to achieve a two-thirds majority amongst delegates to make it to the conference floor.

MP fails to mention link to healthcare company

Mark Simmonds, the Conservative MP and ministerial aide, has apologised for failing to mention that he is paid £50,000 a year by Circle Healthcare. Although he declared his links in the register of interests, he failed to mention them – as he is supposed to – before speaking during the debates over the Health and Social Care Bill last year. Circle recently became the first private firm to run an NHS hospital, the Hinchingbrooke in Cambridgeshire.

Health reforms could increase drug access inequality

An adviser to the NHS has warned that the reforms could increase local variations in access to drugs, and worsen the postcode lottery in treatment, GP Online reports.

Paul McManus, a clinical advisor to NHS Yorkshire, has stated that the introduction of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) could lead to increased local variations in access to drugs, as each one will formulate its own policy for procuring drugs on which NICE has yet to publish its verdict. This means that some newer drugs, such as those in the cancer drugs fund, may be offered by some CCGs but not others.

This would increase scale of the postcode lottery already seen across Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), unless the new CCGs work together, McManus warned. He said there was also the danger of increased duplication of effort at the local level as a result of the reforms.

Leading expert thinks government’s plans are misguided

Professor Chris Ham, chief executive of the King’s Fund – a leading health policy think tank – has written in the Guardian criticising the government’s focus on cutting managers in its efforts to find £20bn of efficiency savings.

He described as ‘worrying’ the drive to make deep cuts in managerial posts. He argues that the departure of experienced managers will risk the loss of financial control and a reduction in the quality of patient care and safety.

Government encouraged to invite opponents to negotiations

The government has been encouraged to speak to opponents of the health reforms by some of those present at yesterday’s meeting. Dr Charles Alessi wanted more sides to be involved in the discussion, and Dr Steve Kell said that it was important to involve the BMA and RCGP, who were both shut out yesterday.

February 20, 2012

Health Bill Petition reaches 100, 000

Dr Kailash Chand’s “Drop the health Bill” petition reaches the 100, 000 mark, thereby compelling its debate in parliament. Earlier today Dr Chand tweeted “Why are they ignoring the public opinion to go ahead with the health bill?” Go to http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22670 to sign the petition!

Andrew Lansley hecked by protesters

Andrew Lansley was heckled by protesters as he arrived at Downing Street for a meeting on the future of the NHS. One member of the public Jean Hautot refused to stand aside saying “I’ve had enough of you”. Another protester GP Louise Perkins discussed Camerons misrepresentation of the facts and claimed that the number of health professional supporters could be fit “into a telephone booth”

David Cameron cherry picks guests NHS summit guests

David Cameron has been criticized after failing to invite groups that oppose the health bill, and only those that are tolerating it to today’s NHS summit. Peter Carter spoke to BBC radio 4’s today program, finding it extraordinary that a meeting was being held “which has been called an emergency summit to take things forward without involving many of the key organisations that are intrinsic to making sure the NHS is successful”. Andy Burnham similarly tweeted about Cameron’s pedaling of “The nonsense that results if you only speak to people who say what you want to hear.”

Rumours of Cameron's disasterous hospital visit

The head of a hospital in Newcastle Sir Leonard Fenwick spoke out to deny allegations that staff confronted David Cameron during his visit to the Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital. This comes, however, in the face of various witness accounts and statements suggesting that the prime minister was ignored by and faced anger from staff, and that this criticism was ignored by the prime minister who “simply dismissed the criticism and reverted to scripted spin”.

February 17, 2012

Ex CCG Vice Chairman calls for Bill to be dropped

A senior GP - who had previously supported the health reforms - has now called for them to be ditched, GP Online has reported. Writing in the British Medical Journal, Dr Peter Bailey called on Andrew Lansley to ‘get rid of the bill’.

As a leading member of his Clinical Commissioning Group, one of the new local organisations which are at the heart of the reforms, Dr Bailey had initially been encouraged by the government’s proposals. But as more details became apparent, he decided that the reforms should be dropped, with GPs having been ‘set up’ by the Bill.

‘Our early enthusiasm for protecting the fundamental ethos and values of the NHS led us into collusion with the Bill. By the time the professions really understood the Bill much of the damage was already done.’

Royal College of Radiologists votes against Health and Social Care Bill

At an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on 16^th February, the Royal College of Radiologists voted on several resolutions which were in opposition to the reforms, all of which were carried. Resolutions which stated that the Bill would damage the NHS and increase healthcare inequalities, and which called for continuous opposition to the Bill, were carried unanimously.

A summary can be found on the RCR website.

Reports by SHAs highlight risks of health reforms

Risk assessments by four Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) have highlighted concerns within the health service over the affects of the proposed reforms. In what is another embarrassing turn for Andrew Lansley, these reports raise serious questions over the potential impact that the changes could have on standards of care, safety, and performance monitoring.

As these findings are from internal risk assessments, their disclosure will only increase the pressure on the Heath Secretary to publish the Strategic Risk Register, which would give a complete picture of the risks posed to the NHS in England. He has so far fought against its publication, despite a ruling from the Information Commissioner, and Labour have tabled a vote in the Commons for the 22nd of February over the issue.

Over 150 paediatricians demand Health Bill to be scrapped

More than 150 paediatricians have signed a letter, published in the Lancet, asking for the government to drop its plans for NHS reform. As a sign of the continuing and mounting opposition to the Health and Social Care Bill, 154 members of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health put their name to a letter which made scathing criticisms of the reforms.

The signatories stated that ‘we believe that the Bill will have an extremely damaging affect on the healthcare of children’, and ‘we see no prospect for improvement to the Bill sufficient to safeguard the right of access to heath care by children and their families’, putting further pressure on the coalition government to back down on health reform.

Andy Burnham calls for vote on Risk Register

The Labour health spokesman has increased the pressure on Andrew Lansley to make public an assessment of risks the reforms pose to the NHS, by tabling a debate and vote in the Commons for the 22nd February over whether the document should be published.

Known as a Strategic Risk Register, it is a highly influential, and potentially damaging, analysis carried out internally by the Department of Health, looking at financial risks to the health service, as well as those posed to patient care. Publication of this report could decide the future of the Health and Social Care Bill, and Lansley’s determined fight to prevent disclosure has increased speculation over its findings.

He had been ordered to publish the risk register by the Information Commissioner, but the Health Secretary appealed against the decision. With the appeal not due to be heard until early March - when the Bill will have nearly finished its progress through Parliament - the calls for the register’s urgent publication have grown in recent weeks, and the issue is set to come to a head on the 22^nd.

Shirley Williams wants competition clauses to be dropped

Senior Liberal Democrat peer, Lady Williams, has written in the Guardian asking for the competition clauses of the Bill to be abandoned. Her intervention has increased doubts over how much support her party will give the reforms, as the Lib Dems’ deputy leader Simon Hughes called for Andrew Lansley to quit.

Amendments will not prevent postcode lottery

Lawyers have warned that the amendments made to the Bill will not prevent a postcode lottery in the provision of care, Pulse can reveal. Although one of the 137 amendments to the Bill included a requirement for Clinical Commissioning Groups to promote a ‘comprehensive health service’, legal experts have stated that this provision would not prevent individual groups from withholding care from patients according to their lifestyles, as Herts Valley and East and North Herts CCGs have done with cases connected to smoking and weight loss.

Lib Dems want vote on Health Bill

Party activists will try to table an emergency motion at their spring conference to voice their opposition to the health reforms, but face resistance from the party hierarchy in getting the motion put to the conference. Previous conferences have passed motions critical of the coalition government’s health policy, and internal opposition was the main factor in bringing about the pause to the legislation last year.

February 13, 2012

NHS productivity analysis undermines Cameron

A Paper published in "The Lancet" argues that NHS productivity has risen, undermining one of the government’s key arguments for its reform. While Lansley maintained NHS productivity had fallen 15% in the Labour years, Professor Nick Black claimed that  the opposite was almost certainly true. Burnham argues that “This analysis is hugely embarrassing for the prime minister” and “demolishes an anti NHS argument”

Radical proposals from the BMA to tackle organ shortage

Controversial plans include keeping patients alive solely for their donor potential, using organs from `high risk` patients as well as retrieving hearts from new born babies. This is to tackle a chronic shortage which see’s up to 1,000 people a year dying.

Andrew Burnham warns David Cameron is in a lethal position

Andrew Burnham, shadow health secretary is credited with finally putting Labour at the heart of the heated political debate over health reforms, and awarding Ed Miliband credibility. Andy Burnham claims that the health reform issue could trigger David Cameron’s downfall and make him a “one – term prime minister”

Health risks of NHS reform bill revealed

The mirror has revealed the potentially dangerous impact of the proposed NHS shake up. NHS bosses have warned the shake up will endanger patients, lead to staff cuts and do lasting damage to the reputation of the service. Burnham says “these devastating documents expose how David Cameron is putting patient safety at risk with his reckless reforms”

Andrew Lansley defends role of competition as a leading liberal democrat calls for his replacement.

Andrew Lansley has defended the role of competition in the NHS today in “The Health Service Journal”, but despite increasingly vigorous support from David Cameron, efforts risk being undermined, as opposition to the health reforms come now from prominent figures in the Tory party itself. Simon Hughes, Liberal democrat deputy leader, suggests Lansley’s days as health secretary might be numbered.

Investigation reveals extent of international management consultant's role in Lansley's health reforms

A Mail on Sunday investigation has revealed the extraordinary extent of firm Mckinsey’s role in health reforms. Mckinsey spokespeople repeatedly refuse to comment while shadow health secretary Andy Burnham has assured that he will be demanding an urgent review of Mckinsey’s role

February 8, 2012

Monmouth ambulance petition after Jacqueline Davies death

Jacqueline Davies, aged 49, died in January 2011, after collapsing in her home in rural Monmouth and waiting 41 minutes before an ambulance arrived. In December last year, a coroner stated that Mrs Davis death may been contributed to by a “signicant failing” on the part of the Welsh Ambulance Service. An uncovered ambulance shift and a flat battery on the Rapid Response Vehichle were contributing factors to the delay in emergency response to the Davies' house.

Jacqueline's son, Mathew Davies, aged 27, is presenting a petition to members of the health and social care committee onTuesday, calling for “the Wales NHS Ambulance Trust to provide a uniformly high standard of ambulance provision throughout Wales and especially rural areas such as Monmouthshire."

David Cameron Backs Health and Social Care Bill despite growing resistance

David Cameron is backing Health secretary Andrew Lansley in forcing the Health and Social Care Bill, despite it’s facing an ever growing resistance both in professional and political arenas. Over 90% have voted in favour of scrapping the Health bill in the British Medical Journal. Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Burnham is among those applying pressure, accusing the government of turning “upside down” a good and collaborative system while creating a destabilised alternative.

Health and Social Care Bill: Row over NHS plans ahead of peers debate

Controversial plans to overhaul the NHS in England return to the Lords later, amid a row over proposals to let hospitals raise more money privately. The Bill would allow hospitals to raise up to 49% of their income from private patients, if it was spent on the NHS.

NHS panel says publishing GP outcomes data can cut postcode lotteries

Practice data on outcomes and activity should be published to eliminate postcode lotteries in access to 'low clinical value' treatments, an NHS panel has concluded.

February 6, 2012

GP body calls for Bill to be dropped

Royal College of General Practitioners chairwoman Dr Clare Gerada stated that "this decision was not taken lightly, but it is clear that the college has been left with no alternative."

Local Medical Committees see rise in GPs with depression

Survey finds pressures on doctors are increasing as a result of the NHS reforms, the pay freeze on general practice and a steadily rising workload, as cuts are "beginning to bite".

Government's trial abolition of practice boundaries causes concern

Medical defence experts say the pilots, due to start in April, are raising "serious concerns" over accountability and continuity of care for patients.

General Practitioners Committee warning over commissioning plans

GPC deputy chairman Dr Richard Vautrey warns over continuation of target culture in the current proposals for commissioning framework, despite the present government attacking targets when in opposition.

Scrapping the Health and Social Care Bill would save £1bn

Analysis by professor of health policy and management claims that dropping the Bill would save £1bn in 2013.

February 3, 2012

NHS reform: GPs and physiotherapists urge scrapping

Physiotherapist leaders have joined the Royal College of GPs in calling for the health bill in England to be scrapped, increasing pressure on the government.

Dr Helena Johnson, chair of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said: "We cannot sit back. Instead, we must once again raise our concerns in the hope that the prime minister will halt this damaging, unnecessary and expensive reorganisation which, in our view, risks leaving the poorest and most vulnerable in society to bear the brunt."

Health minister, Simon Burns responded that he found the GPs criticisms of the health bill “baffling” and remarked that the RCGP had previously supported at least some elements of the bill.

Johnson admits that the RCGP “have tried to engage constructively and make sensible suggestions throughout the bill's passage through Parliament. But time and time again, the views of patients and health professionals have been ignored. The government seems determined to press ahead with these reforms."

January 31 2012

NHS reforms criticised by leading healthcare publications

BMJ, HSJ and Nursing Times say Bill is "unnecessary, poorly conceived, badly communicated and a dangerous distraction at a time when the NHS is required to make unprecedented savings".

Hundreds of doctors warn Bill will "derail and fragment" the NHS

Opening it up to competing private providers will lead to "fragmentation, chaos and damage to the quality and availability of patient care".

For high quality commissioning there must be training - where is it?

The health bill is mired in debates about "clinical commissioning" and where GPs will look in future for their commissioning support after the abolition of primary care trusts."

March against the Bill

The TUC has announced plans for a rally protesting against the Health and Social Care Bill, taking place on Wednesday 7th of March, as the legislation enters its final stages in Parliament. Health Unions and their members, representing workers from across the health service, will march under the banner of the All Together for the NHS campaign, and will finish with a 'Save our NHS' rally at Westminster Central Hall.

January 16, 2012

Final Leg of Bevan's Run

Yeaterday saw the marvellous Clive Peedell finish the last leg of Bevan's Run, managing to break through a knee injury with help from A Better NHS's Dr Jonathan Tomlinson. Read all about it here and make sure to keep checking back for updates on all aspects of the bill.

January 12, 2012

The results of a poll of the members of the Royal College of GPs shows that 98% voted to drop the health bill. As eminent blogger Roy Lilley commented, why give GPs the huge job of spending £60bn of public money when they quite clearly don't want to do it.

January 10, 2012

Firstly, apologies for the lack of updating over the holiday period. There's a lot to catch up on!

The Treasury is currently holding a consultation on PFI with the deadlone of 10^th February. The call for evidence is on the reform of Private Finance Initiative and proposals for a new approach to using the private sector in the delivery of public assets and services.

Pulse gave an excellent report on CCG constraints. They investigated budgetry control over 55 PCTs and found that two-thirds are currently missing their financial targets.

Have a look at the marvellous map Pulse have produced to see what's happening in your area.

The Survey assesses patient experience across local NHS services and the results again suggest a high level of patient satisfaction. From July the survey will be taken twice a year and the DoH press release states that 'The new GP patient survey gives patients the opportunity to comment on their experience of their GP practice, and some other NHS services. The new questions ask patients about their experience of accessing care from their practice (from making an appointment, experience of reception through to the clinical consultation) as well as asking about other services such as dentistry and out of hour’s provision.'

Andrew Lansley gave an interview to the Independent on December 18^th. Do not read if you suffer from high blood pressure!

More details here

More warnings to Cameron
Seven past Presidents of the Faculty of Public Health have written to David Cameron to advise that the Health and Social Care Bill should be reconsidered or withdrawn as it will only widen health inequalities. The warning comes after the results of a survey of 1000 members of the Faculty: 'The results showed that 81 per cent of respondents disagreed that the bill would reduce inequalities in access to healthcare, while 71 per cent of respondents disagreed that it would create a safer and more effective response to public health emergencies.'

December 12, 2011

Pulse reports today on a key victory for LMC's after leaders won concessions in a ldeal for the takeover of family health services by NHS Shared Business Services. The deal, a joint venture between the Department of Health and private firm Steria covering ten trusts, now includes performance indicators that were previously 'aspirational'.

Chris Ham from the King's fund talks commissioning and actually talks about integration within a network of NHS organisations involved in adapting Kaiser Permanente’s model.

December 9, 2011

Sign the petition here

December 8,2011

Could lives be saved by Lansley's reforms?

Fullfact.org has been taking a look at Andrew Lansleys claim that 'My 60-step plan for the NHS will save 20,000 lives a year by improving quality of care.' News outlets had given several different figures as to how many lives could be saved. Where had these different figures come from and are they reliable? Have a look at the factcheck.

December 5, 2011

NHS data pt2

More on Cameron's plan to share data from Richard.Blooger's NHS Vault. Richard points out how easy it is to identify someone from thier records even if they are anonymised.

Board Papers

It's good to see the NHS Commisioning Board taking transparency seriously and publishing thier board papers for the upcoming meeting on December 9th.

December 3, 2011

NHS data worry

According to this article in The Telegraph the Prime Minister will be outlining closer collaboration between the NHS and life sciences industry 'giving them more freedom to run clinical trials inside hospitals.' The move raises concerns about privacy. Joyce Robins, from Patient Concern, said:“Even when they say records will be anonymised, the amount of detail contained in medical records means that companies may be able to find ways to target people with particular conditions.” She added that, “This data is absolutely private; it is not the Government’s to give.”

Lords exchange

Roy Lilley, through his excellent newsletter (sign up now if you haven't already), has directed us to an interesting exchange in the House of Lords about the role of the private sector.

December 2, 2011

Bevan's Run

Consultant Clinical Oncologist Clive Peedell and his colleague David Wilson will be running 160 miles from Aneurin Bevan's Statue in Cardiff to the Department of Health, Richmond House, Whitehall, London. Peedell's 'Bevan's Run' aims to raise awareness of the threat to the NHS from the Health and Social Care Bill. Dr Peedell will be running from the 10th - 15th January and you can also join in at any stage of the run.

Hope yet for a logjam in the Lords?

Left Foot Forward today asked if the time it takes for the Health Bill to get through the Lords could scupper Lansley's plans. The bill is just halfway through after sitting for nine days of the fourteen expected.The article states that the best case scenario for the bill is that it is out by February, but has to be wrapped up by March.

December 1, 2011

US Nurses show support for strike

The US nurses union National Nurses United supported striking nurses in the UK by holding rallies in six different cities. The rallies were held at British consulates in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando and San Francisco, and at the British Embassy in Washington, DC, to protest about plans to cut public pensions in the United Kingdom. Rajini Raj, RN, said: "We're here in support of the more than 2 million people striking in Great Britain today. We know an injury to one is an injury to all even if there is an ocean between us." Jos Williams, president of the DC Central Labor Council, added that: "Today, it is the British workers and tomorrow it is the American workers."

See they're flikr from ther day here.

Is social care funding rising or falling?

Fullfact.org take a look at the reality of what is happening to social care funding in the face of conflicting information. According to Labour MP Liz Kendall 'The Government are cutting funding for older people’s social care by £1.3 billion.' Meanwhile according to Andrew Lansley, 'More than £7 billion was added to the social care budget as a consequence of the steps taken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and by the NHS.'

Take a look at the facts here.

Send 'Health-Scrooge' Cameron a Christmas card!

NHS Alert have a launched an initiative to send David Cameron a Christmas card with the message that all we want for Christmas is our NHS.

Sign the card here.

November 30, 2011

'Nightmare' future for public health, according to Faculty of Public Health survey

According to a survey of nearly 1,000 public health specialists published by the UK Faculty of Public Health, there is widespread fear that the governments reforms could make it harder to respond to emergencies. The survey also found that 81% of respondents disagreed/strongly disagreed that the bill would reduce inequalities in access to healthcare. Professor Lindsey Davies, President of the UK Faculty of Public Health, said: "Public health experts protect the health of millions of people by analysing complex evidence. Yet there is little evidence that the huge changes that the bill would bring will deliver the public health improvements we all want to see.

Rise in patients asking about Private Healthcare

A survey commisioned by Spire Healthcare has found that over a quater of Gps have seen a rise in patient enquiries about private healthcare. Dr Una Coales, GP chair of the Independent Doctors Federation, said that GPs should be offering 'non-judgemental' medical advice and not persuade or dissuade patients from seeking to self pay or take out private health insurance.

What if GP's walked away?

In Health Matters Paul Corrigan has blogged about how the government proposals would fair if GPs lost interest in commisioning and just walked away. Corrigan comments that, 'The assumption being made is that the Government has GPs over a barrel in some way and that they will have no choice. If they want to engage in commissioning then they have to put up with whatever the DH puts them through. Of course that’s true – but for only as long as GPs feel they have no choice.'

Read the full text here.

November 29, 2011

NHS reform 'set to cost £3.4bn'

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham has accused the Government of burying the true cost of NHS Reforms.Government estimates put the cost at around £1.2-£1.3 billion but academics have predicted the final bill would reach double that. Burnham claims that an order for primary care trusts to hold back 2% of their budgets over two financial years to pay for the overhaul will total £1.69 billion this year and £1.7 billion in 2011/12.

DoH refuse to relaese document on health reform risk

Earlier this year the DoH refused to comply with a Freedom of Information request from then Shadow Health Secretary John Healey for release NHS reform risk register resulting in the Information Commission ruling that the DoH breached the Freedom of Information Act. The DoH will be appealing against the ruling with Lord Howe claiming that, 'exposing that kind of information could cause needless concern, set hares running and seriously undermine confidence in the programme of work.’ Baroness Thornton has responded by saying,‘ What are the risks we cannot know about? That is a matter of grave concern to the committee indeed.’

Latest from the Commonwealth Fund
The Commonwealth fund has released International profiles of  the healthcare systems of Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. The overview covers health insurance, public and private financing, health system organization, quality of care, health disparities, efficiency and integration, use of health information technology, use of evidence-based practice, cost containment, and recent reforms and innovations. Again, the report reinforces the popularity of the NHS.

November 28, 2011

Don't get ill on a Saturday

Data published by research company Dr Foster in the group's Hospital Guide has shown a 10% spike in deaths at weekends compared with weekdays across 147 hospital trusts. Roger Taylor from Dr Foster said, "It's very worrying, we need to see proper planning systems, based on sound clinical evidence, in order to ensure safe nurse staffing levels for patients."

Reaction from Downing Street and healthcare experts here.

November 25, 2011

BMA votes to oppose health bill outright

The BMA, after a knife edge vote, has opted to oppose the health bill in it's entirety and will launch a public campaign to oppose the unpopular reforms. The vote comes after the leaked Department of Health document, Developing commissioning support towards service excellence, seemed to confirm that ministers hope to privitise the NHS 'by stealth'. BMA Council member Dr Helena McKeown, commented that, ‘Eighteen months ago those of us who spoke of privatisation by stealth were called paranoid and accused of scaremongering. We now have a piece of DH evidence leaked and widely available on the net showing how the large corporate commissioners would be embedded in commissioning. It is fair to say this is the smoking gun.'

November 24, 2011

GPs to vote on pension offer

The BMA will be giving GPs and medical students the opportunity to vote on the governments pension offer once negotiations have concluded, thought to be by the end of December. Dr Hamish Meldrum, chair of the BMA, said:‘Doctors stand to be very hard-hit by the proposed changes to the NHS Pension Scheme. Those at the start of their careers face the prospect of paying around £200,000 more in lifetime contributions, and of working much longer.' Back in October the BMA had predicted that GPs' pension contributions will increase 142% by 2014.

November 23, 2011

House of Lords debates government involvement in Clinical Commissioning Groups

On 22nd November, the House of Lords debated important clauses covering the relative roles of the Secretary of State and the NHS Commissioning Board (NHSCB). Some peers were concerned that the proposed “mandate” between the Secretary of State and the NHSCB would, in effect, reduce parliamentary scrutiny of NHS policy. However, amendment 100A, allowing for parliament to raise recommendations for the mandate, and for the Secretary of State to explain why they had or had not accepted the recommendations, was not passed.

November 21, 2011

RCN Warning

Despite the Coalition's promise that frontline NHS services would be unaffected by cuts, the RCN has warned that the NHS is heading for crisis point with, with 56,058 NHS positions across the UK due to be cut. RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary Dr Peter Carter said “Cutting staff numbers by up to a quarter and axing a third of nursing posts will undoubtedly have a deep and potentially dangerous impact on patient care,” he said. “There is clear evidence that the quality of care and patient safety is improved when you have the right numbers and skills in place on wards. Staffing levels should be based on rigorous clinical evidence and should not be arbitrarily lowered in a short-sighted effort to save money. We are currently working with Peers to table amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill to ensure mandatory safe staffing levels.”

Take a look at the RCN's Frontline First campaign.

November 16, 2011

Drop the Bill
Shadow Health Minister Andy Burnham was in Brighton today to promote Labour's Drop the Bill campaign. The Shadow Health Minister was speaking at the Royal College of Midwives conference, and work shadowing local NHS staff along with MPs Jamie Reed and Liz Kendall. He said “In Opposition, David Cameron promised no top-down re-organisation of the NHS. In Government, he went back on his word. The NHS is already facing the biggest financial challenge in its history. The very last thing it needs right now is to waste £2billion on a costly and distracting re-organisation.”

November 13, 2011

Keeping up with the Lords

Professor Allyson Pollock has an ongoing set of briefs as the Health and Social Care Bill makes it's way through the Lords. Do check them out.

November 11, 2011

Squaring the Circle
After long negotiations Circle Healthcare have now sealed the 1 billion, 10 year deal to take over the management of Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambridgeshire, excelerating the privatisation of the NHS. Circle, which is part listed on the Stock Exchange and has faced financial difficulties of it's own this year, will take over the running of the hospital in February 2012. With 20 hospitals struggling financially this could just be the start of private healthcare companies running NHS hospitals.

November 9, 2011

When is a quango not a quango? When it's the NHS Commissioning Board

Clause 6 of the Health Bill is being debated by the Lords today - the bit that outlines the role of the NHS Commissioning Board. Allyson Pollock et al, argue that the board is effectively a new quango (which has risen while the ashes of government's massive quango bonfire are still hot) and reduces the accountability of the government and the Health Secretary. The ambiguous responsibilites (as set out by the bill) of Commissioning Groups has also been debated. Meanwhile, Dr Jacqueline Davis has been telling American physicians the story of how Lansley's Monster is trying to kill our NHS.

November 7, 2011

New report says government is wrong about cancer outcomes

Research published by Professor Colin Pritchard of Bournemouth University in the British Journal of Cancer contradicts a key rationale behind the government’s NHS reorganisation. The government has claimed its reforms could save 5,000 unnecessary deaths from cancer a year by 2015, and that our cancer outcomes still lag behind those of comparable countries. In contrast, research by Professor Pritchard found, of 10 countries, England and Wales achieved the biggest fall in cancer mortality in men aged between 15 and 74 years of age over the period 1979 to 2006 – 31%, and the third highest fall in cancer mortality in women of the same age range – 19%. In terms of the proportion of GDP spend relative to reducing cancer mortality, England and Wales was the most efficient of all 10 healthcare systems, with almost double the efficiency of Germany.  Professor Pritchard told the Guardian that his research “challenges the government’s assertion that the NHS is inefficient and ineffective at treating cancer”.

November 3, 2011

Another pause for the wonky health bill

After 'pausing' to 'listen' to the concerns about the whole of the Health Bill earlier this year - and then changing very little - the government have now agreed to 'pause' that crucial part of the NHS bill that basically says the NHS shouldn't really be the responsibility of government. Fearing a LibDem rebellion in the Lords, the government announced it would have a further 'period of reflection' on the matter. This means that the Lords will debate the legislation until at least Christmas and the bill may not be ready by the end of the parliamentary session in April.

November 2, 2011

Committee Stage in the Lords: Manoeuvring on Amendments

In response to a Guardian article on 26th October, Shirley Williams insists, in a letter to The Guardian, the LibDems have not conceded all amendments to the Bill now that the government "appeared" to accept the Secretary of State's responsibility to provide a comprehensive NHS... But have they? An amendment by Lord Mackay, a former Tory Lord Chancellor, is what the goverment wants, but another by Shirley Williams and backed by Labour secures the S of S's responsibility more clearly and is gathering pace.

November 1, 2011

Just a load of wonk?

After telling Andrew Lansley that his Health Bill was 'wonk' on Question Time a couple of weeks ago, Dr Phil Hammond uses the term again in a recent article for the HSJ. Hammond says that 'humanity, integration and transparency' are what the NHS really needs - and not 358 pages of, well, 'wonk'. We're not sure if the first utterance of the word was a calculated slip of the tongue, but we think we know what Hammond means by it.

October 31, 2011

Briefing the Lords

Will the Lords vote on November 2nd to ensure that the Health Secretary's duty to provide a cmprehensive health service remains? Or will they allow the health bill to dilute the government's responsibilities? Read Allyson Pollock's briefing to the Lords as they prepare to debate the issue. You can also read an earlier briefing which outlines how Clause 1 of the bill 'will fundamentally change the NHS for the worse'. The BMA have provided the Lords with a parliamentary brief as well, still continuing to ask for the bill to be withdrawn, while expressing serious concerns that the 'bill lacks sufficient explicit assurance about the Secretary of State's continuing responsibility for the NHS.'

October 28, 2011

Peer Pressure

What can campaigners do now that Lansley’s Bill has received its Lords second reading? Support amendments that dilute the destructive potential of the Bill. In the list of amendments already put down there a number of good amendments. To look at them follow these directions:

a) Go to http://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/

b) On the right under “House of Lords Quick Links” you will see “Bills before Parliament”, click on it

c) Scroll down the list of bills to then select Health and Social Care Bill

d) Towards the top of this page you will see on the right “Read this Bill”, select “All Bill Documents” on this menu

e) Scroll down once and under “Amendment Papers” select the first called “Revised Marshalled List of Amendments”

How to contact a Lord

a) Go to http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/lords/

b) Click on the name of your chosen Lord. Of course the Labour ones are more likely to be sympathetic, although the amendment by Lord MacKay of Clashfern, Conservative, is positive.

c) Note: not all of them have email, so you could write a letter. Either way, address your correspondence “Dear Lord ……..”, be polite and style the email like a letter, for maximum effect. State your name and address too.