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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Government lose health plan vote | Government lose health plan vote |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The government has been defeated at the Labour conference over its NHS plans. | |
| Delegates voted in favour of a Unison motion calling for a slow down in the pace of reform and condemning the privatisation of the health service. | Delegates voted in favour of a Unison motion calling for a slow down in the pace of reform and condemning the privatisation of the health service. |
| It comes on the day health workers at NHS Logistics are on strike over plans to sell-off the supply agency to DHL. | It comes on the day health workers at NHS Logistics are on strike over plans to sell-off the supply agency to DHL. |
| A NEC statement supporting reforms was also defeated on the back of the union "block vote" but Labour said 62% of ordinary members had supported it. | A NEC statement supporting reforms was also defeated on the back of the union "block vote" but Labour said 62% of ordinary members had supported it. |
| Labour sources said that 87% of trade unions and other groups affiliated to the party opposed the statement backing the health reforms but promising greater consultation. | Labour sources said that 87% of trade unions and other groups affiliated to the party opposed the statement backing the health reforms but promising greater consultation. |
| A party spokesman said the card vote had showed a majority of constituency supported "Labour's commitment to continue the reforms in the health service which are bringing benefit to patients across the country". | A party spokesman said the card vote had showed a majority of constituency supported "Labour's commitment to continue the reforms in the health service which are bringing benefit to patients across the country". |
| Ahead of the Unison vote, the union's general secretary Dave Prentis had told the Manchester audience ministers must sort out the "mess" . | Ahead of the Unison vote, the union's general secretary Dave Prentis had told the Manchester audience ministers must sort out the "mess" . |
| Any organisation which refuses to make difficult decisions to get back on track is an organisation which in a few years will have to make even more difficult decisions Patricia Hewitt | Any organisation which refuses to make difficult decisions to get back on track is an organisation which in a few years will have to make even more difficult decisions Patricia Hewitt |
| Proposing the motion attacking the "breakneck speed of reform", Mr Prentis said: "Leave the privatisation and failing markets to the Tories. | Proposing the motion attacking the "breakneck speed of reform", Mr Prentis said: "Leave the privatisation and failing markets to the Tories. |
| "Set that clear red line between us and the Tories. This is their agenda not ours. | "Set that clear red line between us and the Tories. This is their agenda not ours. |
| "If you believe the NHS is that jewel. We need to protect it." | "If you believe the NHS is that jewel. We need to protect it." |
| In his speech, he attacked plans to privatise NHS Logistics and also the policy of reconfigurations which could lead to major hospitals being stripped of key services such as A&E to provide more care in the community. | In his speech, he attacked plans to privatise NHS Logistics and also the policy of reconfigurations which could lead to major hospitals being stripped of key services such as A&E to provide more care in the community. |
| But he was cut short before completing his motion - as he had exceeded the five-minute limit - to heckles from the conference hall, which included NHS staff waving placards saying "Save Our NHS" and "Keep the NHS Working". | But he was cut short before completing his motion - as he had exceeded the five-minute limit - to heckles from the conference hall, which included NHS staff waving placards saying "Save Our NHS" and "Keep the NHS Working". |
| 'Challenging' | 'Challenging' |
| The motion called on the government to "rethink the headlong rush to a competitive system". | The motion called on the government to "rethink the headlong rush to a competitive system". |
| It warned: "Immense damage is being done to some local services because of deficits and the breakneck speed of change". | It warned: "Immense damage is being done to some local services because of deficits and the breakneck speed of change". |
| The Unison motion, which does not change government policy, was support by a number of speakers. | The Unison motion, which does not change government policy, was support by a number of speakers. |
| David Williams, a delegate from Selly Oak, said: "I didn't join this party to see this privatisation programme. I joined this party to defend the health service. | David Williams, a delegate from Selly Oak, said: "I didn't join this party to see this privatisation programme. I joined this party to defend the health service. |
| "What we are seeing here is a process of losing support and losing votes among the very people that we look to for support in election after election." | "What we are seeing here is a process of losing support and losing votes among the very people that we look to for support in election after election." |
| And Sharon Holder, of the GMB union, said NHS staff were "alienated" by health reforms. | And Sharon Holder, of the GMB union, said NHS staff were "alienated" by health reforms. |
| "They are fed up with competition, fed up with PFI, fed up with privatisation." | "They are fed up with competition, fed up with PFI, fed up with privatisation." |
| Unison proposed the motion opposing NHS reforms | Unison proposed the motion opposing NHS reforms |
| But a few speakers supported the government's record on the NHS, praising the investment. | But a few speakers supported the government's record on the NHS, praising the investment. |
| Kent GP Dr Rav Seeruthun warned delegates not to let their objections get in the way of patient care and accept private sector involvement was sometimes necessary. | Kent GP Dr Rav Seeruthun warned delegates not to let their objections get in the way of patient care and accept private sector involvement was sometimes necessary. |
| And Betty Carey, a Labour member from Wansbeck, in Northumberland, added Labour had helped improve many aspects of the NHS and social care because of their huge amounts of investment. | And Betty Carey, a Labour member from Wansbeck, in Northumberland, added Labour had helped improve many aspects of the NHS and social care because of their huge amounts of investment. |
| Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, who had urged Unison to drop the motion, saying the government, trade unions and NHS staff should work in partnership, said the health service was facing a "challenging" period. | Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, who had urged Unison to drop the motion, saying the government, trade unions and NHS staff should work in partnership, said the health service was facing a "challenging" period. |
| She added change was inevitable. "Any organisation which refuses to make difficult decisions to get back on track is an organisation which in a few years will have to make even more difficult decisions." | She added change was inevitable. "Any organisation which refuses to make difficult decisions to get back on track is an organisation which in a few years will have to make even more difficult decisions." |
| But delegates ignored her pleas and voted in favour of the Unison motion. | But delegates ignored her pleas and voted in favour of the Unison motion. |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "This vote exposes further divisions within Labour about its future direction." | Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "This vote exposes further divisions within Labour about its future direction." |
| And Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb added: "The government is pressing ahead dogmatically without stopping to see whether its reforms are actually improving patient care." | And Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb added: "The government is pressing ahead dogmatically without stopping to see whether its reforms are actually improving patient care." |
| The public sector union tabled the motion as hundreds of staff from NHS Logistics were manning picket lines at five supply depots in England. | The public sector union tabled the motion as hundreds of staff from NHS Logistics were manning picket lines at five supply depots in England. |
| The agency, which delivers everything from bedpans to medical equipment and food to GPs and hospitals, is due to be transferred to delivery firm DHL at the beginning of October. | The agency, which delivers everything from bedpans to medical equipment and food to GPs and hospitals, is due to be transferred to delivery firm DHL at the beginning of October. |
| It is their second 24-hour strike in a week and ends on Wednesday night. | It is their second 24-hour strike in a week and ends on Wednesday night. |