Drop the health bill, say nursing unions

By Robert Adungo

Nursing and midwifery unions have joined with those representing doctors and NHS administration staff to demand the Health and Social Care Bill is thrown out.

Before, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives had said they were willing to work with the government to deal with their concerns with the bill, but now they want it dropped entirely.

The British Medical Association and Unison, which represents administration and support staff, have already made such demands.

Under the bill, GPs will take control of much of the NHS budget. In addition, greater competition from the private sector will be encouraged. According to the BBC, only 3.5% of NHS operations are currently undertaken by the private sector.

But include other health care provision - particularly mental health - and then the private sector has a larger share resulting in £1 of every £20 spent by the NHS going to private providers.

Under the reforms, this is likely to increase - which has led to some comments that the NHS is being privatised. Another reform will change who is responsible for NHS spending.

Currently, Primary Care Trusts control much of NHS spending, but under the bill the responsibility for that spending will go to clinical commissioning groups. However, as the bill is already at the House of Lords, it would take a lot to derail it at this late stage.