David demands further changes to NHS bill
Bradford MP David Ward backed further amendments to the Government's Health Bill today.
David supported amendments tabled by Liberal Democrat MPs, which address remaining concerns about the Bill, including the power of the Secretary of State to provide - as well as secure - healthcare. The Government have committed to make these changes before MPs have a final chance to vote on the Bill later this year.
More than a thousand amendments are already being made to the Bill, following opposition at the spring Liberal Democrat conference in Sheffield and from campaigners and health professionals.
Commenting, David said:
"The Lib Dems have already succeeded in securing major changes to the Bill which is now significantly improved. There are now more safeguards against cherry-picking of profitable services by private companies, the promotion of competition by the regulatory body has been replaced with promoting the interests of patients and GPs are no longer going to be in sole charge of local healthcare commissioning without democratic scrutiny.
"Vitally the Bill also puts in place new safeguards to prevent the Government from deliberately trying to increase privatisation in the NHS as happened under Labour. This will prevent the disastrous waste where private companies, like the Eccleshill Treatment Centre, were paid millions of pounds for work which was not carried out and was never needed.
"But the defining feature of the NHS is that it is a comprehensive, universal service that is free at the point of use. When it comes to delivering this there must be no doubt that the buck stops with the Secretary of State. I have voted for the Bill to be changed to put this fact beyond any doubt and so that the secretary of state retains a cast iron duty to provide as well as secure the provision of a comprehensive health service.
"I have received promises from the Government that these changes will be made, and will not vote for the Bill to become law unless I am satisfied that this has been done."