Doctor calls for reforms rethink

AN Oldham GP is demanding the Government scraps its health proposals amid fears it will destabilise the NHS.

Dr Katie Pieroni, of Hill Top Surgery, is among more than 400 doctors across the country worried the reforms will not improve patient care.

In June, the Government announced a series of changes to the original proposals in the face of mounting opposition.

Among the changes are plans to allow hospital doctors and nurses — not just GPs — on new commissioning consortia and scrapping an April, 2013, deadline for the new boards to take over.

But despite David Cameron’s claims the medical profession are behind the changes, an open letter signed by Dr Pieroni suggests opposition is widespread. It says: “This is a critical week for the future of the NHS in England.

“MPs will have their final debate on the most controversial reforms in a generation, before the Health and Social Care Bill moves to the Lords.

“Our organisations believe that the bill could still potentially destabilise the NHS as we know it. This is despite some positive amendments that the Government made to the legislation.

“Though the language may have changed, the Government remains committed to opening up the NHS further to market forces as a priority.

“Without building in appropriate safeguards, extending choice to any qualified provider risks seriously destabilising existing, mainly NHS, providers and making it much harder to develop the integrated care patients want and need.”

The doctors are also want further assurances after the original plans suggested scrapping the duty of health secretary to provide the health service.

After an outcry ministers said this would be reintroduced, but amendments only say the secretary of state should “provide or secure” care — which critics claim weakens the current position.

The letter adds: “We support a vision of healthcare that is patient-focused, clinically-led and based on outcomes. That is why further significant amendments must be made to the bill.”

Critics are still concerned over the continued role of the private sector, the risk of increased bureaucracy and what to do with failing parts of the NHS.

The bill would bring about some of the most radical reforms of the service in a generation through abolition of two tiers of bureaucracy, local Primary Care Trusts and regional Strategic Health Authorities.

MPs last night debated the bill and will continue today before it moves to the Lords where it is set to face more criticism.