Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Lords urged to back NHS private work plan

A letter from directors of 53 NHS trusts says the potential income could result in better care for NHS patients.

The biggest shake-up since the founding of the NHS in 1948 would also put GPs in control of much of the NHS budget.

But Labour and several health bodies oppose the changes, which have already been delayed to garner more support.

The government has offered several concessions, including strengthening the accountability of the health secretary, which peers will discuss on Wednesday.

The letter from medical and clinical directors of 53 NHS foundation trusts and NHS trusts is published in the Times on Wednesday.

They defend the proposal to allow trusts to earn up to 49% of their income from non-NHS sources, saying "there are sound medical and clinical reasons for supporting this".

"It will enable us to bring much needed additional resources into our organisations to benefit NHS patients," the letter says.

"Examples of these benefits include developing treatment innovations and specialisms - such as complex paediatric treatment, robotic surgery, and employer-funded mental health treatment - and mean that trusts will be able to provide services on the NHS that can no longer be commissioned or are now rationed, including IVF."

Without this amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill, "we will lose millions of pounds of potential income and will lose the opportunity to expand and develop our clinical services", the trust directors argue.

Concerns about the bill have been raised by several health bodies, including the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing, with the Royal College of GPs writing last week to Prime Minister David Cameron to ask for the plans to be scrapped.

Labour opposes the legislation, while some Liberal Democrat and independent peers are demanding changes to it.

Last Wednesday, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley tabled more than 100 amendments to the bill, which has been passed by the Commons, in an effort to push it through the Lords.

One states that the health regulator, Monitor, will have the power to require that healthcare providers supply "integrated services", such as ensuring patients leaving hospital move straight into high-quality after-care.

Another amendment stipulates that medical research should be a "core function" of the NHS, to allow it to keep pace with foreign competitors.

But the amendment which will be debated on Wednesday involves ministerial accountability. It promises to guarantee "beyond doubt" the health secretary's duty to keep the overall NHS intact.

Labour insists these concessions do not go far enough and is urging the government to drop the whole bill, arguing it will lead to "privatisation by the back door".

Opposition to the proposals led Prime Minister David Cameron to pause the proposed shake-up in April last year, to allow further consultation.

Mr Lansley has said the government is carefully listening to medical professionals and patients and the amendments "address the remaining issues" concerning some peers.

Changes are already being made to pave the way for the proposed new system to start in 2013.

From the BBC News Website. To view please follow this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16933394

Topics: Politics, NHS