14.02.11
Cameron shows support for Lansley and NHS reforms
Prime Minister David Cameron has expressed full confidence in Andrew Lansley as Health Secretary after fresh criticism of his failure to convince medical professionals and the public of the need to restructure the NHS.
A spokesman said that the Prime Minister was “fully committed to the reform and modernisation of the health service”. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg also showed support for the Health Secretary, saying that Lansley “cares passionately about the NHS” and is “the right man for the job”.
Yesterday, Labour seized on the disclosure that several risk registers compiled by strategic health authorities warned of the potential impact of the reform. One authority warned the shake-up could lead to a repeat of the Stafford hospital scandal in which over 1,000 patients could have died as a result of poor care.
As Lansley’s plans came under renewed attack in the House of Lords last night, the Government rejected claims of a conflict of interest between its reforms and the management consultants, McKinsey & Company, which is advising on the plans.
Labour’s Baroness Royall said the firm seemed “to be setting the rules in the Health Bill and benefiting from the outcome”, and Labour’s Lord Campbell-Savours asked if McKinsey was passing on information shared by civil servants to its corporate clients.
Health minister Earl Howe denied this and said the Coalition Government was spending far less on consultants than the previous administration.
On Sunday Liberal Democrat deputy leader Simon Hughes told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show that Lansley should leave his role after the reforms were in place.
“My political judgement is that in the second half of the parliament it would be better to move on,” he said.
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