Doctor at the House to fight for NHS

AN OLDHAM doctor has taken a stand against a new Government health bill.

Dr Steve Watkins, of Parklands, Shaw, delivered a petition of 263,000 signatures to Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams outside Westminster against the changes.

He signed the petition organised by campaign’s website 38 Degrees, that demands leaders don’t break up health services and listen to warnings from experts.

Dr Watkins said: “I would hope that the Government would listen to such a clear and combined set of opinions.

“People from across the medical profession have raised warnings, including the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing.

“The concept of the NHS is that it is not committed to commercial principles, it should be socially owned and socially accountable.”

The bill, drafted by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, will provide a greater role for Monitor, the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundations.

It will be put in charged of licensing providers, setting prices, promoting competition and supporting service continuity — if the Bill is passed.

But Dr Watkins, who has served as a public health consultant in Oldham and is now a member of the British Medical Association (BMA) council, fears the implications of such changes.

He added: “It isn’t clear how they will use these extensive powers.

“The could have the power to intervene with local GPs and impose commercial principles, when it is not wanted by GPs or local patients.

“I feel very strongly about this.”

Mrs Abrahams said she would be passing the petition on to the Department of Health.