Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
U-turn on NHS reform bungle
Hancock to axe Tory outsourcing decision
PLANS to unpick disastrous Tory NHS reforms have been announced by Matt Hancock.
The Health Secretary’s proposals would undo changes made by David Cameron’s government in 2012 which fragmented healthcare and forced outsourcing of services.
A new White Paper would scrap a rule that contracts to run NHS services worth over £615,000 must be put out to competitive tender.
The original changes privatised NHS services to encourage “competition” – making it difficult for NHS bodies and local councils to set up joint teams and pool their budgets.
However campaigners warn mass outsourcing will remain, just without the “bureaucracy”.
Mr Hancock said: “These changes will allow the NHS to work more closely together with different parts of the NHS and, crucially, with social care and public health colleagues. At the moment rules are set out in law that stop some of that working together. That’s been a problem.”
Sara Gorton, health lead at Unison, said: “Scaling back the damaging internal market forcing the NHS to compete against itself and the private sector can’t happen soon enough.”
One in three patients admitted to hospital as an emergency has five or more conditions, like diabetes or obesity, up from one in 10 a decade ago.
Integrated care systems will be set up to help co-operation between the NHS and councils to benefit the local population.
It is hoped this will help people stay out of hospital. But Shadow
Health Secretary Jon Ashworth said: “You cannot just legislate for integration, you need a properly-funded social care plan.”
Ex Labour Health Secretary Andy Burnham called for a “cross-party” promise to social care staff.
The 2012 reforms gave powers over day-to-day running to NHS England.
Privately many NHS leaders and some Tories feel they are among the worst NHS revamps.
The new plans have been branded a “power grab”, giving Mr Hancock greater powers to intervene in operational decisions.
Dr Jennifer Dixon, of the Health Foundation, said they “could take healthcare backwards”.
Stopping the NHS competing with itself can’t come too soon SARA GORTON HEALTH LEAD AT UNISON