Have Your Say

Should the NHS scrap the Health Bill?

The editors of three leading health journals, the British Medical Journal (BMJ), Health Service Journal and Nursing Times have simultaneously published an editorial calling for the health reforms to be abolished and an assurance that the way the reforms are being implemented must never happen again.

BMJ Editor Fiona Godlee, HSJ editor Alastair McLellan and Nursing Times editor Jenni Middleton have argued that instead of “the resulting upheaval” which has been “unnecessary, poorly conceived, badly communicated, and a dangerous distraction at a time when the NHS is required to make unprecedented savings”, the government should establish an independently appointed standing commission “to initiate a mature and informed national discussion on the future of our national health system”. And if they don’t, they argue, another NHS reform programme is guaranteed in five years.

“We need a broad public debate on the principles that should underpin the NHS, how decisions on priorities should be made in a cash-limited system, and what role clinicians and private sector organisations could and should play”, they said.

Others have already raised similar concerns. Writing in the BMJ earlier this month, both Professor Kieran Walshe and Professor Martin McKee questioned the practicality of the Bill, with the former claiming that scrapping the health bill would save the government over £1bn, and the latter admitting that despite writing over 30 books and 500 academic papers he still couldn’t understand the government’s plan for the NHS.

And whilst Professor Walshe admits that abandoning the health bill “would be politically painful and damaging” for ministers, he argues that the government might gain public credit by scrapping the controversial NHS reforms.

“They might get some credit from the media and the public for listening and learning”, he says, “but they would also neutralise an issue which has become increasingly politically toxic for them.
 
“They could then plan to accomplish much of their intended reform agenda – greater patient choice, more GP involvement in commissioning, increased plurality and competition in healthcare provision – using existing legislative provisions. And the NHS could get on with delivering healthcare to patients, and the serious business of finding ways to do more with less.”

The British Medical Association (BMA), the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) have already announced their opposition to the Bill and called for it to be withdrawn.

However, Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley, appears determined to push ahead with the Bill. In a speech last week, he said, “Without legislation, GPs won′t trust government to give them the power; and local authorities won′t get the responsibilities they need. So I’m proud that we are taking this reform through parliament, where opinions can be heard.”

• Do you think that the Bill should be scrapped?
• Would you have any concerns if this was to happen?