NHS news review
- Conservative election poster 2010
A few recent news articles concerning the UK’s Conservative and Liberal-Democrat coalition government – the ConDem’s – brutal attack on the National Health Service.
BBC News – No apology over Leicester NHS chief’s ‘no pay’ e-mail
A hospital boss has refused to apologise for sending an e-mail to staff warning they might not get paid due to a financial “crisis”.
It came as managers at Leicester’s hospitals met to discuss how to deal with a £6m overspend.
The chief executive of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust defended telling staff they might not get paid unless cuts were made.
He said it was the toughest crisis the hospitals had faced in 10 years.
He said he was sorry if people were upset by it, but would not apologise for the message it contained.
‘Recruitment freeze’
The e-mail was sent to staff last week warning them of “catastrophic” money issues.
It said: “There’s a real issue about whether we will be able to pay our staff by August or September.”
In a bid to ensure the trust could pay its staff, health bosses have agreed to an immediate freeze on all but essential locum, bank and agency expenditure.
There will be a recruitment freeze on all but essential posts and and a more efficient use of operating theatres will be put in place.
Mr Lowe-Lauri said: “That deals with the today issues. As for tomorrow, this is the bigger job.
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Pulse – Rebel doctors launch renewed fight against ‘cosmetic’ health bill changes
Disgruntled BMA Council members have launched a renewed fight against the Government’s health bill ahead of the association’s Annual Representative Meeting next week, after dismissing the changes announced by ministers as ‘mainly cosmetic’.
The group of doctors including GPC member Dr David Wrigley and consultant Dr Jacky Davis – a long-standing opponent of market-led reforms – have penned an open letter to the medical profession outlining their concerns, claiming the changes announced last week had done ‘nothing to reassure us’ about the bill’s ‘underlying aim to impose a fully-fledged market on the NHS’.
The letter, which the doctors have signed in personal capacities, claims the Government has crossed the ‘red lines in the sand’ of the BMA and RCGP in order to stay on course with its original plans, as demonstrated by the scaling back rather than removal of Monitor’s role to promote competition, and the retention of the Any Qualified Provider policy.
It says the Government’s response also confirms its intention to surge ahead with policy directions opposed by the BMA including the outsourcing of the function of commissioning to private companies, exposing the system to ‘a whole new raft of even less identifiable conflicts of interest’; and extending personal health budgets.
It adds that even the good parts of the ‘curate’s egg’ – as described by BMA chair Dr Hamish Meldrum, the introduction of GP-led commissioning, had ‘gone rotten’ as a result of the increasing powers handed to the NHS Commissioning Board.
The letter also cites a study by researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, published in the BMJ last week, which described how the bill could allow private companies to strip NHS assets ‘leading to more a expensive system that will deliver worse quality of care’.
It concludes: ‘We therefore totally reject the repeated claims of the Coalition leaders that their reforms will deliver greater NHS efficiency and that there will be ‘no NHS privatisation’.
‘Even the supporters of clinically led commissioning must be highly concerned with a return of central control in the NHS via a strengthened NHS Commissioning Board and clinical senates. Thus, even the potentially “good part” of Dr Meldrum’s “curate’s egg” has now gone rotten.’
‘In conclusion, the simple fact is that the Government’s proposed changes to the bill are mainly cosmetic in nature. There are no ‘significant’ policy changes that will alter the general direction of travel and we believe the proposals will actually create even more problems for the NHS by increasing the tiers of bureaucracy.
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Pulse – Open letter to the medical profession: Now is the time to get tough on NHS reform
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In conclusion, the simple fact is that the Government’s proposed changes to the bill are mainly cosmetic in nature. There are no ‘significant’ policy changes that will alter the general direction of travel of the reforms and we believe the proposals will actually create even more problems for the NHS by increasing the tiers of bureaucracy. It is at this point that we would remind Mr Clegg that “no bill is better than a bad bill”. He would also do well to listen to views of his fellow liberal Democrat colleague, Dr Evan Harris, who dismissed the NHS Future Forum report as “cliché-ridden, trite nonsense” at the Social Democrat Forum last weekend.
It is incumbent on us as doctors to ensure our patients will always have access to a health service that does not differ across the country, a health service that is there when you need it and does not require an insurance policy or self funding if you need some extra care that your personal budget won’t fund. The NHS is facing the biggest threat in its history and as its founder, Anuerin Bevan famously said: ‘It will last as long as there are folk left with the faith to fight for it.’
We therefore urge members of the medical profession to take up the fight for the NHS by continuing to oppose this damaging bill and call for its withdrawal. We urge them to lobby their MPs, members of the House of Lords, and BMA representatives by highlighting what this bill means for the NHS, the profession and our patients.
Dr David Wrigley, GP, Carnforth, Lancashire
Dr Clive Peedell, Consultant clinical oncologist, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough
Dr Jacky Davis, Consultant Radiologist, Whittington Hospital
Professor Ian Banks, President of European Mens Health Forum and Professor of Men’s Health, Leeds Metropolitan University
Mrs Anna Athow, Consultant Surgeon, North Middlesex Hospital
Written in personal capacities and all are members of BMA UK Council
NHS news review
There has been a noticable reduction in NHS articles in the corporate media since the acceptance of the Future Forum’s recommendations following it’s ‘Listening Exercise’. The corporate press and indeed many stupid MPs have accepted that the Con-Dems’ evil plans to destroy and abolish the NHS have been defeated. Nothing could be further than the truth. If your intention is to abolish and destroy the NHS then that is achievable through creating an unwieldly, unworkable system.
- Conservative election poster 2010
A few recent news articles concerning the UK’s Conservative and Liberal-Democrat coalition government – the ConDem’s – brutal attack on the National Health Service.
New Statesman – The hidden cost of NHS reform
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Whatever the sophistry of its proponents, a scheme in which of the provision of clinical care is outsourced to “any willing provider’ can, in reality, mean only one thing: that the potential provider of that care will primarily be judged not on how good that care will be but on how cheaply it will be given. Even leaving aside the additional pressures on costs which apply uniquely to private healthcare organisations (the generation of profit and the payment of dividends to its shareholders), the need to undercut its competitors in the NHS will inevitably impact on their primary item of expenditure: their staff. Fewer doctors and fewer nurses will have to work longer shifts: in other words, the very environment in which mistakes are most likely to happen. Good news for the lawyers: less so for the patients and for the taxpayer who has to foot the bill when a claim is made.
If it were necessary to test that theory against experience, one would need to look no further than the provision of out of hours GP care. Until April 2004, this service was provided in-house by Primary Care Trusts and/or GP practices. Since then, it has been possible for this to be out-sourced to independent commercial providers (a concept which should sound familiar to those examining the current NHS proposals).
In the event, such concern was generated by the succession of adverse events which followed that change that in June 2009 — and prompted by the tragic death of a patient in February 2008 after he was administered a gross overdose of diamorphine by a locum doctor from Germany — the Care Quality Commission began an investigation into the provision of out-of-hours primary care services. Its interim statement on this investigation, in turn, prompted the Department of Health to commission its own inquiry. That report, published in June 2010, should have made uncomfortable reading for the evangelical proponents of the Coalition’s plans. There is no indication, however, that anyone, from Mr. Lansley down, has ever read it — or, indeed, seen any of the countless stories in the media about the failures of out of hours care in the years since 2004.
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NHS services in Merseyside to be outsourced to the private sector – Southport Visiter
SOME hospital services in Merseyside are set to be run a private firm in a seven-year £27m contract.
Payroll, recruitment and human resources functions for 12 healthcare organisations could be carried out by international company Crapita Symonds.
The deal, due to be signed off by each individual trust board at hospitals including Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen, will involve the transfer of up to 150 staff and the setting up of a shared service centre in Merseyside.
Trade union Unison today opposed the “privatisation” bid, voicing concerns Crapita would look to make redundancies.
Regional organiser Paul Summers said he anticipated the loss of around 30 posts and had yet to assured job losses would be averted.
He said: “Crapita is not going to run this service out of any goodwill to the NHS – it will run it to make money. We fear the way it will do that is by cutting staff levels.
“Why would you employ 13 payroll managers to run one service? It stands to reason there will be potential compulsory redundancies.
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Con-Dems accused of ‘railroading’ NHS proposals / Britain / Home – Morning Star
Labour shadow health secretary John Healey accused panicky Con-Dem ministers of railroading their revamped attack on the NHS through Parliament at “breakneck speed” today.
Mr Healey had led an unsuccessful attempt on Tuesday night to secure more time for MPs to consider 160 amendments to the government’s Health Bill, which will be tabled by ministers following PM David Cameron’s latest zig-zag.
The shadow minister said the government’s hasty scheme to rush the Bill through the Commons by July 14 would “deny this elected House its proper role in scrutinising the legislation.”
He warned that the revamped Bill would retain “the essential elements of the Tories’ long-term plan to see the NHS broken up as a national service and set-up as a full-scale market.”
Derisive laughter broke out during a debate on the Bill’s new timetable when Health Minister Simon Burns proclaimed: “Although the pause may have ended, we will never stop listening.”
Leading health campaigner and Labour MP Grahame Morris protested that crafty Tory ministers were “cherry-picking” which aspects of the Bill they would allow to be debated at the committee stage.
Surgeon who interrupted PM’s hospital visit takes indefinite leave | Politics | The Guardian
A bow-tied surgeon who interrupted a hospital visit by David Cameron and Nick Clegg last week has gone on leave, according to an NHS trust which issued instructions to staff to say nothing to the media.
David Nunn, who burst in as the prime minister and his deputy were talking to a patient at Guy’s Hospital in London, has gone on indefinite leave.
Cameron and Clegg looked briefly startled as the surgeon marched into the ward on 14 June and said: “Sorry. Just a minute. Excuse me, I’m the senior orthopaedic surgeon in this department. Why is it that we’re all told to walk around like this and these people …”
His words were then drowned out as an official from the NHS trust ushered him away. Nunn was objecting to the presence of a television crew and Downing Street officials who had not followed the example of Cameron and Clegg, who had taken off their jackets and ties and had cleaned their hands with sterilising gel.
As he walked out Nunn said: “I still mean it. I’m not having it. Now out.”
Ushering out the TV crew Cameron said: “Why don’t you disappear. Out. We have all taken our ties off.”
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust said Nunn had requested the period of leave. It is not yet known when he will return to work.
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27/11/13 Having received a takedown notice from the Independent newspaper for a different posting, I have reviewed this article which links to an article at the Independent’s website in order to attempt to ensure conformance with copyright laws.
I consider this posting to comply with copyright laws since
a. Only a small portion of the original article has been quoted satisfying the fair use criteria, and / or
b. This posting satisfies the requirements of a derivative work.
Please be assured that this blog is a non-commercial blog (weblog) which does not feature advertising and has not ever produced any income.
dizzy
NHS news review
The revised Destroy the NHS Bill is to be returned to the House of Commons to be debated briefly and superficially. Unison general secretary Dave Prentis issues a “call to arms” to defeat the ConDems attacks on public services.
- Conservative election poster 2010
A few recent news articles concerning the UK’s Conservative and Liberal-Democrat coalition government – the ConDem’s – brutal attack on the National Health Service.
BBC News – MPs to reconsider changes to NHS reforms in detail
Changes to proposed NHS reforms in England will be subject to fresh scrutiny in the Commons after MPs voted to send them back to committee stage.
MPs voted by a majority of 73 to “recommit” parts of the Health and Social Care Bill in a rare procedure.
Labour wanted the whole bill re-examined, arguing concessions meant it had changed beyond recognition.
Ministers have accepted limits on competition and a greater role for doctors and nurses in commissioning.
The concessions followed a backlash against Health Secretary Andrew Lansley’s original proposals by many within the medical profession.
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MPs backed a motion recommitting aspects of the bill by 297 to 224 votes following a short debate in the Commons. The last time this happened during the passage of government legislation was in 2003.
Shadow health secretary John Healey said Labour would continue to “oppose this reckless and needless NHS reorganisation” and argued the decision only to review the proposed changes was a “procedural fix”.
But Health Minister Simon Burns said ministers did not believe it was necessary for the entire Bill to be recommitted to committee in order for proper scrutiny to take place.
“Indeed we feel very strongly that this would unnecessarily delay the progress of the Bill to the ultimate detriment of patients,” he said. “It is now time to give greater clarity and direction to staff and patients.”
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Government accused of trying to rush through botched NHS plans – mirror.co.uk
DAVID Cameron was last night accused of trying to rush through the Government’s botched NHS reforms without real scrutiny.
The PM was forced to water down Andrew Lansley’s original blueprint, and now the Government wants to steamroll the Bill through Parliament with just a fraction of MPs debating it.
The Commons Health Select Committee will get only 10 days to look over 60 of the Bill’s 300 clauses – meaning 80% of them will not be scrutinised fairly.
Shadow Health Secretary John Healey said it was “rushed and reckless” to deny the House of Commons its “proper role”.
He added: “NHS patients and staff have seen a wasted year of confusion and incompetence.
“It’s clear today this will continue, with the NHS set to be more deeply mired in complex bureaucracy and wasted costs for years to come. The way the Government is treating the health service is a disgrace.”
Labour MP Grahame Morris, who sits on the Health Select Committee, added: “The Health Bill is in chaos because this government thought it could steamroll the largest ever NHS shake-up though Parliament.”
Mr Cameron defended the limit, calling 10 days a “significant amount” of time.
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Union: We can win, we must win, we will win against cuts / Britain / Home – Morning Star
Unison general secretary Dave Prentis called the union’s 1.4 million members “to arms” today with a vow of sustained industrial action to defeat the Con-Dem attacks on public services.
In the wake of the huge anti-cuts demo on March 26 he warned Prime Minister David Cameron: “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
Mr Prentis declared unwavering support for the NHS and public-sector pensions and solidarity with sister unions taking strike action on June 30.
“Today is this union’s call to arms,” said Mr Prentis to repeated applause from delegates at the Unison conference in Manchester.
“When you get back to your branches, prepare for action. You have a massive job to do – deciding in regions what action to take, millions of leaflets to distribute, winning the argument with the public, recruiting new members to the cause.”
“Strike action will need to be sustained and the political and public campaigns intensified.
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Unison chief’s ‘call to arms’ warns of long fight over public-sector cuts | Politics | The Guardian
Prentis accused David Cameron of defending the interests of “fat cat bankers” and sacrificing low-paid public-sector workers. But he also fiercely attacked the Labour party, threatening to withdraw support unless the party backed the union campaign.
He said of the government’s action on public services: “They’re cutting further now than Thatcher dared. For them it’s unfinished business. They’ve declared war on our public services – with Tory donors, City firms, hedge funders back in the heart of government.”
He pledged support for the four unions holding a one-day strike next week and said: “If the government fails to listen, to heed our warnings, to negotiate in good faith, I say, David Cameron, you ain’t seen nothing yet. We will strike to defend our pensions. A campaign of strike action without precedent. Yes, we hope for the best. Yes, we will negotiate. But we plan for the worst. Our preparations are well advanced, but there is more to do.
“This is our union’s call to arms. When you get back to your branches, prepare for action. You have a massive job to do; deciding in regions what action to take, millions of leaflets to distribute, winning the argument with the public, recruiting new members to the cause. Strike action will need to be sustained. And the political and public campaigns intensified.
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He issued a message to the government on NHS reforms, saying: “We want the bill scrapped and we will fight you every step of the way, until [Andrew] Lansley tosses it back in the bin, where it belongs.”
On Labour he said: “It’s about breaking a political consensus that says markets know best. In truth, Labour built the bridge over which the Tories now march. In future, [it’s about] only supporting labour candidates who support our values, our union, our people.”
Union officials said this would not mean withdrawing funding from the Labour party (they have donated more than £400,000 in the past year) but instead refusing to endorse constituency candidates who did not promise to back the campaign, including industrial action.
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NHS news review
Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George points out that the proposed NHS ‘reforms’ are remarkably unchanged through the ‘listening exercise’. A poll shows that the Conservatives and Liberal-Democrats are regarded poorly.
- Conservative election poster 2010
A few recent news articles concerning the UK’s Conservative and Liberal-Democrat coalition government – the ConDem’s – brutal attack on the National Health Service.
‘New’ NHS reforms a lot like the old reforms | Left Foot Forward
For those who, like I, had strongly criticised the government’s Health and Social Care Bill and campaigned against the government’s plans, the unprecedented “pause” and “listening exercise” was an encouraging success. Then last week’s Future Forum report represented a welcome step forward.
However, what is emerging from the government’s response is disappointing. It leaves many of the previous concerns – about the risk of a marketised NHS, a missed opportunity to better streamline health and social care and a lack of accountability – still unresolved.
Whether it is the intention of ministers or not is unclear, but it seems that the government will perpetuate rather than resolve the risk posed by the private sector to core NHS services.
In particular:
• Although, as before, Monitor will not “promote” competition, the new NHS Commissioning Board will have an enhanced role in driving competition;
• The proposals weaken the ability of commissioners to treat core NHS services as their “preferred provider”;
• It enhances the opportunities for private sector providers as “choice” gains pre-eminence over integration; and
• Although commissioning bodies will not be able to delegate their responsibility for commissioning decisions to private companies, all other aspects of their role in managing and delivering those decisions can be.
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David Cameron’s popularity rating drops while Liberal Democrats’ slumps | Politics | The Guardian
David Cameron‘s personal popularity has dropped, and the Liberal Democrats‘ poll rating has hit its lowest level for 14 years, a Guardian/ICM survey has revealed.
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Overall, hostility to the coalition has grown sharply, with 50% of voters saying the government is doing a bad job and only 35% saying it is doing a good job – a net rating of -15%. That is 10 points worse than March and 38 down on June last year, when the coalition was enjoying a honeymoon.
The poll was carried out at the weekend after a difficult few days for the coalition, dominated by the relaunch of the NHS plans and announcements of industrial action by several public sector unions.
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