NHS Reforms debated by peers

Posted 27/02/2012

The much discussed Health and Social Care Reform Bill is due to continue being debated by peers in the House of Lords today. Liberal Democrat peers are attempting to re-write the bill which has caused much controversy since its initial drafting.The peers particularly want to take out parts of the proposed Bill which would currently allow for the Competition Commission to review the development of the NHS. A series of detailed amendments are likely to be proposed by the peers which will be debated in the upper chamber throughout this week.The Health and Social Care Reform Bill has faced huge criticism from a wide number of sources over recent weeks. Recently Ed Miliband, leader of the labour party, renewed his attack on the Bill saying that the Government should drop the proposed Bill and seek to make changes within the NHS that it really needs.Benjamin Ward comments: “As a solicitor specialising in medical injury claims, my concerns with the Bill are based on the opinions of the medical clinicians who are at the forefront of delivery within the NHS. The Bill does not appear to have the backing of the majority of medical professionals. According to the Observer in a recent poll of members of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), it was found that 92.5% believed that the Bill should now be abandoned.What is clear is that this current Government has a history of ignoring those ‘in the know’ when it comes to making massive overhauls. This is evidenced by upcoming changes to the way medical injury claims are funded. The Government has proposed radical changes that will severely limit the ability of a victim of medical negligence to make a claim. A massive majority of comments on the Bill have supported the fact that these changes will be of huge detriment to individuals requiring legal advice. These were completely ignored and overlooked and the Bill ploughed on regardless.My fear is that this same approach is being taken with the NHS. It is of paramount importance that the concerns and fears of those acting within the medical profession on a daily basis are listened to and considered appropriately and my hope is that the government do not make a further blunder as they have done with the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill”.