MP’s fear for NHS shake-up

Oldham’s newly-elected MP and former public health worker is sitting on the committee reviewing the small print of government plans to overhaul the NHS.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams (pictured) wants the Tory-led Government to think again on the drastic changes being forced through in its NHS reforms programme.

Mrs Abrahams has secured a place on the House of Commons committee reviewing the fine print of the Government’s controversial Health and Social Care Bill.

A minimum of 16 MPs are appointed, whose political affiliation reflects the parties in the Commons. They go through clause-by-clause scrutiny of the legislation at committee stage before it goes back to MPs.

Mrs Abrahams said: “I fear what’s happening in Oldham with the recent closure of a 28-bed community recovery unit, leaving 15 staff at risk of redundancy, is an indication of the way things are going for us locally and nationally.

“Despite the Tory-led coalition’s promises to protect frontline services, hospitals up and down the UK are starting to announce job losses and cuts to their services.”

Under government plans, GPs working in consortia will take on responsibility for “buying in” the bulk of hospital and community services for their patients. Critics fear hospitals could go bust as the plans include opening up the NHS to “any willing provider”, and whether GPs have the experience and skills to handle such huge budgets.

Mrs Abrahams added: “If the Government’s overhaul of the health service goes ahead, private companies that undercut local NHS hospitals on price could leave those same hospitals facing financial problems and potential closure.

“Also a proposal to lift the cap on the number of private patients treated at NHS units could lead to queue jumping, with NHS patients kept waiting longer.”

Last month, David Cameron announced the second wave of consortias would include one in Oldham which will cover 50 GP practices serving 238,500 patients.

Mr Cameron says the reforms will make “nett savings” within two years, improve services and mean local priorities are put first. But the heads of six health unions raised “extreme concerns” about the changes, arguing they will lead to commercial competition between the NHS and private companies.