Are Tories “listening” or “pressing ahead” on NHS changes?


by Sunny Hundal    
10:50 am - April 19th 2011

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A BBC headline declares today that the man assessing choice and competition during a review of the Health bill says it is not a PR exercise.

But Sir Stephen Bubb, who will report for the review on choice and competition, says he is not “biddable”. Over the next few weeks the NHS Future Forum will talk to clinicians, patient representatives and other groups to discuss concerns over the government’s Health and Social Care Bill.

But the government’s own supporters have admitted there won’t be much listening going on. So why don’t the Tories say where they stand?

Sir Bubb goes on to say:

Andrew Lansley’s formulation of ‘no decision about me without me’ is something we would all sign up to. More choice, more consumer power is something people support. I think some of that has got a little messed up in some of the debates about privatisation.

Would we all sign up to this? Let’s see what the latest polls say. YouGov asked this question last week for the Sunday Times:

“The government are currently planning to reform the NHS. Currently health services are commissioned by local Heath Trusts. Under the government’s plans local Heath Trusts would be abolished, and health services would instead be commissioned by consortiums made up of groups of local GPs. From what you have read or heard about these plans, do you support or oppose these proposals?”

Response? Total support 27%, Total oppose: 52%, Don’t know: 21%. That’s a big thumbs-up from the public then.

Furthermore, the claim that Lansley and Cameron are listening to concerns over NHS changes was shot down yesterday.

Doctors have been told to press on with NHS reforms despite David Cameron “pausing” legislation to bring in the changes. Dame Barbara Hakin, the Department of Health’s national managing director of commissioning development, has written to GPs urging them to keep up the “momentum” of the reshaping of the NHS.

The day after Health Secretary Andrew Lansley was humiliated by an overwhelming vote of “no confidence” by nurses, Dame Barbara wrote to groups of GPs setting up “pathfinder” consortiums to buy health services

Even writers at the Spectator blog admit: “The government is determined not to dilute the fundamentals of the NHS reforms.”

The government should just admit its so-called reforms are going ahead as planned despite this pretend “listening exercise”.

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About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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Reader comments


1. Flowerpower

Is “Sir Bubb” as Sonny dubs him the same Steve Bubb that was on Lambeth Council in the Red Ted Knight days and, if I recall aright, duly surcharged and disqualified for his pains?

If so, the choice was inspired.

2. donpaskini

Sir Steve’s blog is well worth a read. Although it reads very much like a parody, it is actually him.

http://bloggerbubb.blogspot.com/2011/04/choice-yes-please.html

3. Alisdair Cameron

Jesus, Don. Clicked through to that link. Managerialist cant at its best/worst.

4. Tyler

“Are Tories “listening” or “pressing ahead” on NHS changes? No one’s sure”

And will either stop you whining daily until those evil Tories are out of power?

5. carl

The ‘no decision about me without me’ soundbite is empty, and proof if any were needed that the tories are not listening (irony, please).

A report [http://www.patientopinion.org.uk/resources/POreport2011.pdf] published earlier in the year showed that provider choice and inclusivity in decision making feature low in patients’ opinion, whereas 1 in 4 complaints were with miscommunication between staff and patients, 1 in 5 were to do with time wasting, while 1 in 7 were down to cleanliness.

Sunny’s right, why can’t the Tories just say “fuck off Britain, we’re in charge here” – at least then we can just sack Lansley ourselves rather than wait for Cameron to pluck up the courage and do it.

6. carl

haha (re don’s link #2)

One of his “thoughts” is simply “Lansley’s marvellous declaration ,” no decision about me without me” needs reinforcing.”

God, his brain must be on constant overdrive.

7. Watchman

Sunny,

Bit of a logical fail here I’m afraid:

Sir Bubb goes on to say:

“Andrew Lansley’s formulation of ‘no decision about me without me’ is something we would all sign up to. More choice, more consumer power is something people support. I think some of that has got a little messed up in some of the debates about privatisation.”

Would we all sign up to this? Let’s see what the latest polls say. YouGov asked this question last week for the Sunday Times:

“The government are currently planning to reform the NHS. Currently health services are commissioned by local Heath Trusts. Under the government’s plans local Heath Trusts would be abolished, and health services would instead be commissioned by consortiums made up of groups of local GPs. From what you have read or heard about these plans, do you support or oppose these proposals?”

So you think you can disprove the assertion that we’d all sign up to ‘no decision about me without me’ by quoting an opinion poll that does not mention that phrase in its question (and if it had, would very likely have got a different result – questions matter in persephology)? Interesting application of logic.

You could disprove the assertion quite easily by stating that you are happy for other people to take important decisions about your health and future on your behalf without consulting you. I presume you are? Even if one of these people might be say, Tyler?

8. Richard Blogger

“Sir Bubb” blogs here, have a chuckle while you read it http://bloggerbubb.blogspot.com/

If you are aghast that he’s being given any influence over out NHS, think again. I don’t think he is, since the report from the “listening forum” has already been written and it will say “Lansley is wonderful, he has met everyone in the NHS and everyone he has met says that his plans are perfect: FULL STEAM AHEAD!”

9. Richard Blogger

@2

oops I posted before refreshing page to see your comment.

10. the a&e charge nurse

The tories, sorry coalition, are hellbent on completing NuLABs long held dream to fully privatise the NHS – as a wise medical blogger once said the public were easily conned by Alan Milburn & Co because they believed the NHS would be safe in Blair’s hands (no tittering at the back).

The tories, sorry, coalition want the transition to be as painless as possible hence the brief hiatus while they serve up a fresh portion of Lansley inspired spin – any sensible commentator will can see this latest episode of cloak & dagger for the bullshit it undoubtedly is?

11. nanobot

Right-wingers always advance their anti-social agenda through deceit, the British people are fucking fools to keep electing them.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

    Are Tories “listening” or “pressing ahead” on NHS changes? No one’s sure http://bit.ly/hVo8Ov

  2. Martin Shovel

    RT @libcon: Are Tories “listening” or “pressing ahead” on NHS changes? No one’s sure http://bit.ly/hVo8Ov

  3. Tim

    RT @libcon: Are Tories “listening” or “pressing ahead” on NHS changes? No one’s sure http://bit.ly/hVo8Ov

  4. Alan Marshall

    RT @libcon: Are Tories “listening” or “pressing ahead” on NHS changes? No one’s sure http://bit.ly/hVo8Ov

  5. Nick H.

    RT @libcon: Are Tories “listening” or “pressing ahead” on NHS changes? No one’s sure http://bit.ly/hVo8Ov

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  7. sunny hundal

    While Tories pretend to listen on NHS proposals, their friends say they're pressing ahead… despite public opposition http://bit.ly/hVo8Ov

  8. NHS reforms live blog | Birmingham Link

    [...] Sunny Hundal (left) at the left-liberal blog Liberal Conspiracy has just written this post criticisi…. He says the government is confused and points to a recent YouGov poll for the Sunday Times showing [...]

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    [...] Sunny Hundal (left) at the left-liberal blog Liberal Conspiracy has just written this post criticisi…. He says the government is confused and points to a recent YouGov poll for the Sunday Times showing [...]

  10. Daniel Pitt

    Are Tories “listening” or “pressing ahead” on NHS changes? No one’s sure http://bit.ly/hVo8Ov #ConDemNation

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