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Labour peer breaks ranks over vote to kill controversial NHS regulations Labour peer breaks ranks over vote to kill controversial NHS regulations
(5 months later)
One of Tony Blair's leading modernisers will rebel against the Labour party in a key vote on Wednesday on proposed NHS regulations that the opposition says will allow companies to bid for almost all health services.One of Tony Blair's leading modernisers will rebel against the Labour party in a key vote on Wednesday on proposed NHS regulations that the opposition says will allow companies to bid for almost all health services.
Despite a three-line whip in the House of Lords on a so-called fatal motion to kill the government's controversial NHS regulations, the former health minister Norman Warner says he will vote with the Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers – sparking speculation of another Blairite revolt against the current Labour leadership.Despite a three-line whip in the House of Lords on a so-called fatal motion to kill the government's controversial NHS regulations, the former health minister Norman Warner says he will vote with the Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers – sparking speculation of another Blairite revolt against the current Labour leadership.
Writing for the Guardian, Lord Warner says "the Labour leadership has decided to put down a motion to annul these regulations, apparently on the grounds that they will force compulsory competitive tendering on the NHS. This is incorrect and I shall be voting against it in the best interests of NHS patients."Writing for the Guardian, Lord Warner says "the Labour leadership has decided to put down a motion to annul these regulations, apparently on the grounds that they will force compulsory competitive tendering on the NHS. This is incorrect and I shall be voting against it in the best interests of NHS patients."
Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, has claimed some of the most radical plans to open up the NHS to the private sector were buried in the government's regulations. Sources close to Burnham described Warner's intervention as "unhelpful" and pointed out that "he has a track record to consider", noting that Warner was the only Labour peer not to vote against the government's sweeping changes to the health system.Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, has claimed some of the most radical plans to open up the NHS to the private sector were buried in the government's regulations. Sources close to Burnham described Warner's intervention as "unhelpful" and pointed out that "he has a track record to consider", noting that Warner was the only Labour peer not to vote against the government's sweeping changes to the health system.
Ministers have already had to withdraw an initial proposal under protest from Labour and campaigners – and the Lib Dem health minister Norman Lamb re-drafted the regulations. The proposed formulation that allows the NHS and GPs not to have to put a service out to tender if it is "capable of being provided only by [one] provider".Ministers have already had to withdraw an initial proposal under protest from Labour and campaigners – and the Lib Dem health minister Norman Lamb re-drafted the regulations. The proposed formulation that allows the NHS and GPs not to have to put a service out to tender if it is "capable of being provided only by [one] provider".
Despite this there has been mounting pressure on the government to "rethink its rethink". The British Medical Association (BMA) joined the Royal College of General Practitioners last week in calling for the regulations to be re-written. Marie Curie Cancer Care and other voluntary organisations have warned that competition will damage patient care.Despite this there has been mounting pressure on the government to "rethink its rethink". The British Medical Association (BMA) joined the Royal College of General Practitioners last week in calling for the regulations to be re-written. Marie Curie Cancer Care and other voluntary organisations have warned that competition will damage patient care.
Mark Porter, chair of the BMA council, told the Guardian that ministers had made "assurances" that there would not be an obligation in the NHS to "fragment services to enable providers to compete or stimulate market entry where this would not be in patients' best interests".Mark Porter, chair of the BMA council, told the Guardian that ministers had made "assurances" that there would not be an obligation in the NHS to "fragment services to enable providers to compete or stimulate market entry where this would not be in patients' best interests".
Porter said: "The wording of the regulations does not match the assurances made to us and many others. That is why we would like the government to withdraw and replace the regulations that explicitly contain these assurances."Porter said: "The wording of the regulations does not match the assurances made to us and many others. That is why we would like the government to withdraw and replace the regulations that explicitly contain these assurances."
Labour said that it had evidence of the "alarming" pace of privatisation throughout the health service. In the last two years, Burnham claimed, the London Ambulance Service has increased spending on private contractors from £400,000 to £4.2m – a 10-fold increase. During the same period, it had cut 900 frontline NHS jobs.Labour said that it had evidence of the "alarming" pace of privatisation throughout the health service. In the last two years, Burnham claimed, the London Ambulance Service has increased spending on private contractors from £400,000 to £4.2m – a 10-fold increase. During the same period, it had cut 900 frontline NHS jobs.
Burnham said: "The House of Lords has a chance today to stop this relentless march of privatisation to the heart of the NHS. The prime minister needs to be reminded that he does not have permission from the British people to put their NHS up for sale."Burnham said: "The House of Lords has a chance today to stop this relentless march of privatisation to the heart of the NHS. The prime minister needs to be reminded that he does not have permission from the British people to put their NHS up for sale."
However, the government said that its proposed regulation was no different to Labour's old one. The health minister Lord Howe said: "The revised regulations are clear – the position on procurement and competition remains the same as it was under the previous administration. It has never been and is absolutely not the government's intention to make all NHS services subject to competitive tendering.However, the government said that its proposed regulation was no different to Labour's old one. The health minister Lord Howe said: "The revised regulations are clear – the position on procurement and competition remains the same as it was under the previous administration. It has never been and is absolutely not the government's intention to make all NHS services subject to competitive tendering.
"The regulations make clear that it is up to doctors and nurses to decide when and where to introduce competition in the best interests of patients.""The regulations make clear that it is up to doctors and nurses to decide when and where to introduce competition in the best interests of patients."
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