Findings On Health Bill 'Death Knell' for Reform

A critical report by MPs into the Government's controversial health reforms has prompted the Labour party to call for the bill's scrapping.

Responding to the publication of the Health Select Committee’s Public Expenditure Report into the reforms, Andy Burnham, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, said the "stark warnings" from the committee should sound the "death-knell" for the Government’s NHS plans.

"It exposes how Ministers have brought disruption and distraction to the heart of the NHS when what it desperately needed was grip and focus.

"The Committee’s conclusion is unambiguous; the Government has placed the NHS on an unsustainable path and it simply has to change course if serious damage to patient care is to be avoided."

The health select committee report said the overhaul was hindering the ability of the NHS to make the savings it needs to safeguard its future.

It comes ahead of a meeting this week of medical leaders about the plans.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley was again forced to defend the reforms, saying they were "essential" for improving the NHS.

However, Mr Burnham said: "The report gives powerful voice to what the vast majority of people across the NHS are saying. Last week, the Government tried to dismiss the concerns of nurses and midwives but today find themselves in the uncomfortable position of hearing them echoed by senior Conservative MPs.

"The Prime Minister promised to protect the NHS and people will not forgive him if he ignores these warnings. He is driving the NHS towards the edge of a cliff and must urgently change course to prevent it going over."

(DW/GK)