RCGP reaction to second reading of Health and Social Care
Bill
12 October 2011
The Health and Social Care Bill received its
second reading in the House of Lords on 12 October 2011.
RCGP Chair, Dr Clare Gerada, said:
"The number of peers who attended the second reading of the Bill
is testament to its importance and to the record levels of concern
about the future of the NHS that it has generated - our own
snapshot survey of RCGP members (1,904) showed that over 70 per
cent of respondents wanted the Bill to be withdrawn.
“Many of the areas that GPs have raised for the sake of patients
and the NHS were flagged up in the debate; the duty of the
Secretary of State to provide a comprehensive health service;
greater clarity around integration versus choice and competition
and the added bureaucracy that we think could hamper clinicians in
delivering services to meet the needs of their local patients and
communities.
“We urge the Government to listen to these and act upon them.
Today's vote is by no means the end of the story, and we will
continue to work closely with Parliamentarians as they seek to
scrutinise the Bill, so that the legislation delivers a genuinely
better system for patients."
Ends
More about the Health and Social Care
Bill and other government reforms
Further Information
RCGP Press office – 020 3188 7574/7575/7576/7569
Out of hours: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk