Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Government retreat on NHS privatisation



by New Worker correspondent

A CROWD of NHS campaigners outside the Houses of Parliament last Tuesday cheered at the news of a small Government retreat on new NHS regulations that would have compelled the new NHS commissioning bodies to put virtually all treatments they want done up for competitive bidding.
The House of Lords was debating secondary legislation under Section 75 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 that would have been due to pass into law without debate in the House of Commons as an automatic update of  Act. But the change was spotted by campaigners and massive opposition built within a few days.
The Government now admits the wording of the new regulations was “confusing” and will redraft the relevant section. This does not mean the battle is won, it means the defenders of the NHS have won a little more time.
 This was the message of the speakers at the rally on College Green last Tuesday, who included MPs Steve Pound, Caroline Lucas, Andy Slaughter and Virenda Sharma. The protest was organised by Save Our Hospitals.

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