Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
And so it came to pass. Despite near universal professional opposition and strong political pressure, the Section 75 regulations that explicitly open up the NHS to competition law were approved in the House of Lords last week. A three-line whip on Liberal Democrat peers ensured a majority of over a hundred, with Baroness Shirley Williams speaking warmly of "an exciting new direction" for the NHS. The rage expressed across social media forums is unlikely to disappear but what can opponents do next?
The most obvious route is national politics. Given the unlikelihood of the National Health Action party making any significant inroads, it is to the Labour party that hopes will turn.
On the surface the signs are encouraging. According to its most recent policy paper on the matter, Labour is committed to repealing those parts of the Health and Social Care Act that force competition into healthcare, and will return to the NHS the status of 'preferred provider'. This is a reassuring stance but one with three weaknesses:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2013/apr/30/nhs-section-75-regulations-where-next
The most obvious route is national politics. Given the unlikelihood of the National Health Action party making any significant inroads, it is to the Labour party that hopes will turn.
On the surface the signs are encouraging. According to its most recent policy paper on the matter, Labour is committed to repealing those parts of the Health and Social Care Act that force competition into healthcare, and will return to the NHS the status of 'preferred provider'. This is a reassuring stance but one with three weaknesses:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2013/apr/30/nhs-section-75-regulations-where-next
