Opposition grows to NHS “patchwork-privatisation” plans
Opposition is growing to the NHS “patchwork-privatisation” plans being proposed by the Tory-led government.
Trevor Cheeseman
Cuts to NHS and social care services likely, says health select committee
The likelihood of cuts to health and social care services, and the destabilising effect of the Coalition’s market-driven NHS reforms, were endorsed today in a remarkable health select committee report. The committee, with a coalition majority and chaired by ex-Tory health secretary Stephen Dorrell, was reporting on implications and risks from the Spending Review.
Lansley: now scrutinised by his own side
Andrew Lansley has a new group to worry about in progressing his controversial NHS reforms – his Cabinet colleagues. It was confirmed this week that following concern within No. 10 and the Treasury, Cabinet “fixer” Oliver Letwin has been asked to scrutinise the reforms.
Public health aspirations undermined by wider coalition policies
Should a stark example of the impact of inequality be needed, look at health status and life expectancy. If everyone over 30 without a degree had their death rate reduced to that of people with degrees, there would be over 200,000 fewer premature deaths each year. This finding, in last year’s Marmot review of health inequalities, illustrated the report’s core message: “Inequalities are a matter of life and death, of health and sickness, of well-being and misery.”
Thin end of the wedge? Private firm to run NHS hospital
Imagine the letters “NHS” were removed from your local hospital’s name. Would that worry you as a prospective patient? This scenario has not happened yet – but is getting closer. Last week saw the announcement of England’s first district hospital where all clinical services will be run by a private company. With the coalition’s Health Bill imminent, concerns about NHS local care becoming a franchise for big private operators are moving centre stage.
Not so NICE: Warning of drug industry influence on NHS
No-one likes to talk about rationing health services, especially politicians. Yet rationing decisions are necessary in all health systems without limitless budgets, since demand will always exceed supply. The question is: who makes the decision, and on what basis?
‘Ring-fenced’ NHS will receive limited protection from the coalition
Do health services really justify a ring-fenced budget? Left Foot Forward’s health policy expert Trevor Cheeseman examines the issue.
National standards in health and care ‘not our role’ says Coalition
Labour must define itself by defending a core level of service quality – putting back the National back into the NHS, and a new National Care Service as well.
GPs’ “major concerns” about Lansley’s reforms
It has been described as the Coalition’s Charge of the Light Brigade – but now it seems the cavalry are having second thoughts, the cavalry being GPs.
The ‘death tax’: worth a second look after all says Lansley
Britain’s ageing population is a national success story. Life expectancy is the highest on record, the product of universal improvements in healthcare, social support and education…