Lib Dems 'broker key health victory' |

Wednesday 19th October 2011 | 10:27

Lib Dems 'broker key health victory'

By Isabel Hardman

Liberal Democrats may win a key concession on the controversial Health and Social Bill before the legislation is passed, PoliticsHome has learned.

Sources have indicated that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, including key rebel Baroness Williams, have struck a deal which would allow Lib Dem peers currently opposed to the legislation to secure changes to the role of the Health Secretary. They are currently concerned that the Bill will mean the Secretary of State is not responsible for ensuring that patients across the country receive the same services and standards of care.

PoliticsHome understands that the responsibility of the Health Secretary to ensure the provision of health services could be re-written so that it allays fears that he could "wash his hands" of the NHS.

In advance of the Bill moving to committee stage in the House of Lords next Tuesday, peers from the Liberal Democrat and Labour parties, and crossbenchers have submitted amendments to the legislation that would change the Health Secretary's duties. The amendments may either be accepted or replicated to some degree by the Government.

Those sponsoring the changes include Baroness Williams, who has been a persistent critic of the reforms, and crossbenchers Lord Patel and Baroness Finlay.

A key amendment submitted by those three peers calls for the Secretary of State to "provide or secure the provision of services". Baroness Williams and Lord Patel also join Labour's Baroness Thornton and Lib Dem Lord Marks to oppose clause 4 in the Bill, which allows non-NHS providers autonomy when carrying out the functions they have been commissioned to do.

The clause, which the peers will oppose in the Bill committee, currently says the Secretary of State should ensure "that any other person exercising functions in relation to the health service of providing services for its purposes is free to exercise those functions or provide those services in the manner that it considers most appropriate".

A spokesperson for Baroness Williams said defining the role of the Secretary of State was one of the key areas for the peer. Labour sources said the party's peers would focus on the Secretary of State's duties as well as preventing regulator Monitor from exercising what they fear is a purely economic role.

Last week Baroness Williams abstained on a vote which would have committed parts of the legislation into a special committee within the Lords for additional scrutiny.

Leave a comment...

Mizar

20:07 |
19 Oct 2011
0

Of course Lansley should be given, or be obliged to ensure, an overall responsibility for the health service. Amazing to think that the Tories want to get rid of this service, in all but name. And they asked for our votes on the basis of NOT changing it at all! But the LibDems, even Shirley Williams, are timid, and should be voting out this disgraceful measure.

Isaac

20:44 |
19 Oct 2011
Recommended
2

Never forget, Nick Clegg signed off on Lansley's original plans. This is blatant opportunism from the Lib Dems.

Nick

21:36 |
19 Oct 2011
Recommended
1

Labour should know all about opportunism. Look at Mr Ed pretending he wants to do something about energy prices. He was Energy Secretary after all; and Labour has 13 years to sort that out. They had 13 years to sort out the NHS too, but as ever, they failed. What makes the Coalition reforms 'bad' and Labour's floundering around 'good' is simply that Labour were doing it so it was OK. Don't make me laugh. If Labour were in office they would be doing the same thing. Hypocrites.

Neil Cooper

18:15 |
12 Nov 2011
0

wrkx6r Dear Baroness Williams, A fortnight ago I brought my wife home after an accident. The care shown by all relevant people in the NHS was exemplary - paramedic, ambulance crew, A and E designated nurse, doctor, immediate X-ray, Ward Staff, Orthopaedic Specialist, CT scan staff, 3 cracked vertebrae, neck brace fitted, subsequent check up. Effective, humane, economical. Vital that such care is kept as responsibility of Health Secretary. Impossible for us to pay except through taxation. Please ensure NHS remains covering before cradle to grave, free at the point of need in this civilised country. Thank you wrkx6r

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