Labour demands Commons vote on 'secret' plan for NHS

[Northerner]

Labour is demanding that MPs be allowed to debate and vote on “secret” plans for the NHS that they claim could lead to greater rationing of care and privatisation of health services.

The party says ministers are trying to push through the creation of “accountable care organisations” (ACOs) without proper parliamentary scrutiny.

Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, has written to Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the House of Commons, urging her not to let “the biggest change to our NHS in a decade” go ahead without MPs’ involvement.

NHS England’s chief executive, Simon Stevens, and the government see ACOs as central to far-reaching modernisation plans that they hope will improve patient care, reduce pressure on hospitals and help the NHS stick to its budget.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/dec/07/labour-demands-commons-vote-secret-plan-nhs

 

[mikeyB]

Are these to be above or below that other cash cow for layabouts the CCGs? How is another layer of expensive folk boosting their pensions supposed to save money?

 

[ypauly]

Private companies are allowed to sue for lost business under EU competition laws, and as far as I can see, the government are trying to hold them off.

The caseI read was about richard branson https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5022569/bransons-health-firm-wins-high-court-battle-with-nhs/ When banging his EU drum he forgets to mention that he is anti-brexit due to the potential lost revenue.

 

[mikeyB]

How he got the contract in the first place is beyond me. The NHS is a service, not a business. It doesn’t have to make a profit for its shareholders. That doesn’t release them from efficiency requirements, mind.