NHS reforms

PM steps in over reforms

David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg are taking ‘personal charge’ of the NHS reforms as the Governments signals some changes to the Bill to appease critics.

‘Any willing provider’ will become ‘any qualified provider’, while deadlines for GPs to organise into commissioning consortia could also be relaxed. Accountability is likely to be boosted, while the law will be strengthened to ensure private companies cannot ‘cherry-pick’ only the most profitable services – a key concern of Lib Dem activists and ministers.

Progress on implementing the Health and Social Care Bill, which has come out of committee stage in the Commons before heading to the House of Lords, has come to a natural break and now is a good time to re-examine some of its provisions, sources suggested.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is understood to oppose any further ‘watering down’ of the Bill.

Labour leader Ed Miliband is stepping up his attacks on the reforms, saying they are causing “chaos”. He will tell the RSA think tank today: “ This is a direct consequence of a coalition based on power, convenience and ambition rather than values.”

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