Wipe-out risk to NHS principles

The founding principles of the NHS are in danger of being wiped out by Government plans to overhaul the health service, an MP has warned.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams said the health reforms had no mandate from the British people and no support from health professionals nor the Lib-Dems who are in coalition with the Tories.

Mrs Abrahams said: “Not only are the founding principles of the NHS in danger of being wiped out, but its culture — the reason that most of its employees work for the NHS — will go as well.

“The whole ethos of the NHS will change. It will now be driven by competition and consumer interests.”

The Health and Social care Bill will hand powers to GPs to commission services in their area once the primary care trusts have been abolished.

Critics fear it will lead to privatisation of the NHS by the back door.

The Lib-Dem conference voted against a “damaging and unjustified” shake-up of GP services in England and an emergency meeting of the British Medical Association urged ministers to withdraw the health bill so the plans could be looked at again.

It was the first emergency meeting for nearly 20 years and was called by the BMA leadership after concerns from its grassroots membership about the plans.

Mrs Abrahams is among the group of MPs scrutinising the bill during the committee stage.