Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, will speak out today against a change in NHS rules that would give administrators powers to dismantle hospital services undemocratically.
The Care Bill receives its second reading in the Commons today (16th December). Clause 118 would increase the powers of Trust Special Administrators, who are brought in to take over NHS organisations deemed to be failing. The Clause would give them new scope to impose changes on a neighbouring organisation.
Earlier this year, the Appeal Court ruled that the Health Secretary did not have powers to implement cuts to Accident and Emergency and maternity services in Lewisham.
Ahead of the Bill’s Second Reading debate, Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, said:
“There is much in the Care Bill that is positive. It’s disappointing therefore that the Government is using it to smuggle in a dangerous and undemocratic change which will make it much easier for popular and successful services to be closed.
“This is a major issue for my constituents, and for anyone who cares about the NHS, or local democracy. People absolutely have to have a say on changes that threaten the services they rely on. After its legal failure over cuts at Lewisham Hospital, the Government should admit defeat. Instead it’s trying to sneak through a fundamental shift in the way decisions about local services are made.”
Lucas has tabled an Early Day Motion to raise concerns about the change:
http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2013-14/656
Contact Steve Harman steve.harman@parliament.uk 020 7219 0221
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