Monday 5 September 2011

Is The NHS Doomed?

Collecting together the main sections of the Sunday newspapers to take into work last night I was struck by The Observers headline "Lib Dem peer plunges NHS reforms into fresh turmoil" and read with joy that Baroness Shirley Williams is expressing new doubts – although appearing pacified by changes to the bill over summer – having re-examined the proposals.

The article also mentions emails released yesterday following a freedom of information request by Spinwatch detailing exchanges between senior health officials and private companies regarding the handing over of between 10-20 hospitals to international companies.  One message from McKinsey to a senior DoH official reads 'international hospital provider groups' would want certain conditions taking over the hospitals, such as 'a free hand on staff management' – adding that the NHS would be allowed to keep real estate and pensions.  How kind.  

"Let me make clear: there will be no privatisation," now sounds a bit hollow David.

Please read 'German Company involved in talks to take over NHS hospitals.'

I fear that Shirley Williams is possibly quite alone as this article states:

 "Sources close to Clegg said the leadership had already "used up a lot of political capital" by halting and then recasting the bill earlier this year."We expect MPs to vote with the government. Otherwise we won't last very long [in power].""

The response I received from my latest email to my (Labour) MP wasn't very encouraging at all, purely focusing on the revised Clause 1 of the bill still proposing to weaken the responsibility of the Secretary of State to provide and secure NHS services.

No specific questions posed were answered nor did MP X state that he/she planned to vote against the bill.

This is not really a very well constructed post folks (as I should be in bed) and in reality it is all over the place, but I guess what I am trying to say is "I think the NHS is doomed."

Sad, very sad.

Anna :o[

Links: http://cockroachcatcher.blogspot.com/2011/09/nhs-reform-shirley-williams-south.html

5 comments:

Cockroach Catcher said...

The "ORIGINAL NHS" will no longer be there. Soon it would be over. Nick Clegg did not have the political sense to do a Coca Cola or Persil turn around. Thanks for the link.

Martin said...

Yes, it looks as though Davey Boy is finishing off what Thatcher failed to achieve. Shame on him.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thanks CC and Martin.

CC ~ wish I hadn't been at work last night and had been able to watch Panorama.

Martin ~ probably unfair to blame Maggie for the whole dispicable affair - Nu Labour really set the ball rolling - hence no mighty roar of indignation from that quarter.

Anna :o]

Maggie Patti Barbara Frankford-Walton said...

insightful words...

Maggie Patti Barbara Frankford-Walton said...

invite you to share a Haiku or a poem of your choice to poets rally week 51 today.

a free verse or a haiku is welcome.

keep up the excellence!
xoxox