A few recent news articles concerning the UK’s Conservative and Liberal-Democrat coalition government – the ConDem’s – brutal attack on the National Health Service.

NHS activists stage protest at Care UK headquarters | Society | guardian.co.uk

A group campaigning against the proposed NHS reforms, and inspired by UK Uncut’s tactics, has staged its first protest.

NHS Direct Action targeted private health firm Care UK’s offices, close to Liverpool St station in London, on Monday. About 50 people took part – a mixture of student doctors, workers and former NHS staff.

Toby Simmons, a medical student at UCL, representing the campaigners, said: “Having been involved in the student movement over the last five or six months and as a medical student it seemed logical to funnel some of that energy toward challenging the health and social care bill. We’re taking UK Uncut’s idea of a simple message linked with a viable alternative.

Healey attacks NHS reforms: ePolitix.com

John Healey called on the health secretary to provide reassurance to those patients who were being denied access to treatment.

During health questions in the Commons, he said Andrew Lansley was a “man in denial”, as patients failed to receive the operations they needed, with waiting times lengthened under the coalition.

He said: “You are a man in denial. What the government is doing to the NHS is making things worse not better for patients.

Waiting times ‘have left patients in agony’ / Britain / Home – Morning Star

A huge increase in the amount of time people spend waiting for key NHS operations has left them “screaming in agony,” a charity said yesterday.

The Patients Association received 220 calls last year from people claiming that they were unable to undergo operations such as knee and hip replacements – up from 66 in 2009.

One patient claimed that putting weight on their knee had left them screaming in agony, but their GP said there was no more cash until April so the surgery couldn’t afford to perform the operation.

Revealed: 40 percent could lose their GP|12Mar11|Socialist Worker

Thousands of Londoners face losing their GP because NHS managers are pioneering a cost-saving initiative to remove “ghost patients”.

And the measures could be forced on people across Britain.

Anyone who has not seen their doctor in the last six months and who does not respond to two letters asking them to confirm their details is being struck off automatically.

Hospitals cutting operations, while waiting times rise – Telegraph

A survey of more than 60 hospital trusts has found that they carried out almost 11,000 fewer planned or ‘elective’ operations in 2010 than they did in 2009.

The trusts that replied carried out 1,227 fewer knee replacements, a drop of six per cent, and 531 fewer hip replacements.

And they carried out 2,041 fewer hernia operations, down 7.25 per cent, and 1,770 fewer tonsillectomies, a drop of 11 per cent.

Pulse – GPs up against private firms in NHS sell-off of entire care pathways

Exclusive: GPs are to be pitched into competition with private firms for the right to provide entire NHS care pathways, under Government-backed plans to put huge tranches of the health service out to tender, Pulse can reveal.

A pilot set to launch across the east of England has already involved talks with a series of private companies about a dramatic expansion in their NHS role, and is seen by the Department of Health as a model for the whole country. It follows Prime Minister David Cameron’s pledge last month to end the state’s monopoly in provision of public services.

The plans will hand private firms, GPs, or combinations of the two provider contracts for a fixed amount of money, creating an ‘incentive’ to increase profit margins by delivering cheaper care out of hospital.

NHS ‘faces challenges’ amid reforms (From Your Local Guardian)

The NHS faces challenges in ensuring safe and stable healthcare while the Government’s reforms are implemented, according to a new report.

The “unprecedented” programme of change will require “exceptionally skilled and focused management” over the next few years, according to the Nuffield Trust.

It said new organisations emerging from the restructure, which will see primary care trusts and strategic health authorities abolished, will face challenges if they try to do more than keep things ticking over.

BBC News – NHS changes ‘risk making child health care worse’

Reforms of the NHS in England are putting the healthcare of children at risk, according to an article in the British Medical Journal.

The doctors and academics who wrote it say healthcare for children already lags behind the best European examples.

But they say giving GPs control over the lion’s share of the NHS budget could make the system even worse.

Rebel Mersey MP John Pugh to lead revolt over NHS reforms vote – Liverpool News – News – Liverpool Daily Post

REBEL Liberal Democrat MP John Pugh is ready to lead a revolt against the Government’s sweeping NHS reforms – warning of “chaos and confusion” if they went ahead.

And the Southport MP predicted other Lib-Dems – and even Conservative – MPs would join the growing rebellion, adding: “MPs are waking up to the obvious problems.”

Asked if he would vote against the flagship Health and Social Care Bill – which will introduce a full-blown market into the NHS – Dr Pugh replied: “That is the likely outcome, if there are not significant amendments.”

Couples trying for IVF babies at St Mary’s Hospital fall victim to cuts | Manchester Evening News – menmedia.co.uk

Manchester’s pioneering IVF unit is the latest victim of NHS cost cutting – with fertility treatments set to fall by one quarter.

Bosses of St Mary’s Hospital, which provides treatments for couples across Greater Manchester, provided 1,154 cycles of IVF treatment last year.

But that number will fall to 868 in the next 12 months.

Hundreds of staff petition against NHS reform

Hundreds of staff are lobbying their MP to vote against controversial reforms they claim could lead to the break-up of the National Health Service.

Members of public service union UNISON have signed petitions warning the changes could lead to the private sector “cherry-picking” the most profitable hospital services.

They have signed petitions which will be presented to Liberal Democrat MPs David Laws and Jeremy Browne, whose Yeovil and Taunton constituencies each include a major district hospital.

Labour complains to BBC in ‘cuts or savings’ row – Telegraph

Officials complained that a BBC London News report concerning NHS budgets used the word “savings” instead of “cuts”.

Labour claims the report, broadcast on BBC One after the News at Ten on Monday night, was biased in favour of the Coalition’s spending programme, an allegation strenuously denied by the corporation.

Officials are reportedly angry that cuts were described “savings” on at least half a dozen occasions during the bulletin, with an accompanying graphic also using the phrase.

A few recent news articles concerning the UK’s Conservative and Liberal-Democrat coalition government – the ConDem’s – brutal attack on the National Health Service.

NHS shakeup risks return to 1930s, says BMA doctor » Hospital Dr

The government’s deliberate dismantling of parts of the NHS risks returning healthcare provision back to the grim and unfair days of the 1930s and 40s, one of Britain’s leading doctors has warned.

The sweeping reforms are in danger of turning the service into “an increasingly tattered safety net” for those with complex illnesses such as diabetes and obesity because private healthcare firms will “cherry-pick” patients who are easy to treat, said Dr Mark Porter, the chairman of the British Medical Association’s hospital consultants committee.

Its ability to provide a comprehensive and universal service could be lost because of health secretary Andrew Lansley’s plan to force hospitals to compete with independent, profit-driven providers for patients, Porter told the Guardian.

NHS reforms worry Lib Dems – politics.co.uk

Andrew Lansley’s NHS reforms are set to come under increased pressure as Liberal Democrat rebels begin to take a public stance against them.

Two Lib Dem rebels – who broke from their party and voted against the rise in tuition fees – have signed a Commons motion by Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop, demanding caution in the implementation of the reforms.

The motion said positive elements of the bill were “threatened” by increased competition and a lack of accountability.

BMA Doctor’s ‘Back To The 1930s’ Comment On Health Reforms Is Spot On, Says Unite, UK

A top British Medical Association (BMA) doctor’s analysis that the NHS ‘reforms’ risk returning health services to the 1930s is spot on, said Unite, the largest union in the country, yesterday.

Unite, which embraces the Medical Practitioners Union (MPU), welcomed the comments of Dr Mark Porter, the chairman of the BMA’s hospital consultants committee who said that the government wished to turn back the clock to the 1930s and 1940s, when there were private, charitable and co-operative providers.

The President of Unite/MPU, Dr Ron Singer said: ‘Dr Porter’s comments will give additional ammunition for those attending next Tuesday’s (15 March) special BMA conference to make their voices heard – that the privatisation agenda contained in the Health and Social Care Bill is pernicious, ill thought-out and unfair. His analysis is spot on.’

RCN members voice concerns about NHS funding – RCN

RCN members say there is growing evidence that pressure to save money in the NHS in England is affecting the quality and safety of care.

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, one health care assistant at an accident and emergency unit in north west England said staff were stressed and tired: “At the end of the day we try to do the best we can and they probably will pick up on the fact that we are short [staffed]. They are waiting longer for painkillers, waiting longer to be assessed.”

A diabetes ward nurse said shortages were putting safety at risk, because of mistakes in medication: “A lot of drugs have similar sounding names or look similar. So you have to be careful all the time. So whereas you used to take a bit of time, speak to the patient – and they usually know what they’re on anyway – but obviously because you’re rushing you haven’t got time to speak to the patient properly and find out.”

Management in Practice – Lib Dem MPs oppose NHS reforms

Two rebel Liberal Democrat MPs have thrown their weight behind calls to make major changes to the government’s proposed NHS reforms.

John Pugh and Andrew George have come out in support of Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop’s House of Commons motion, which claims that secretary Andrew Lansley’s plans will put the NHS at risk due to a lack of accountability and increased competition.

The coalition government will be nervously anticipating the Lib Dems spring conference this weekend where more widespread opposition to the changes from within the party could be made public after an amendment to oppose the reforms was tabled.

Haringey campaigners join protests against healthcare overhaul – Health – Tottenham Journal

Campaigners have been rallying patients and politicians to lobby against the Government’s Health And Social Care Bill – which they claim will put unnecessary pressure on already overwhelmed doctors.

Under the proposals, GPs would be required to form consortiums in which they would have financial and administerial control over the services they offer – on top of their day-to-day duties.

Tottenham MP David Lammy is the latest political heavyweight to back the campaign.

Health secretary defends NHS reform to doctors | InPharm

Health secretary Andrew Lansley has defended his reorganisation of the NHS to doctors, saying it will cut unnecessary levels of management and cut costs in the long run.

Lansley said his programme of reforms will save the NHS around £5 billion by 2015, despite a high initial cost as the changes are put in place.

The health secretary was in a combative mood during a live webcast to British Medical Association members yesterday, and become notably irritated at several questions.

Patients Association says cuts have caused ‘large fall’ in key operations | Politics | The Guardian

Hospital campaigners say they have discovered a “large fall” in the number of certain NHS operations performed in England last year.

The Patients Association expressed “great concern” that figures collected from a third of acute trusts showed a 5% drop in key surgical procedures and longer waiting times for some operations.

But the Department of Health said its own statistics suggested that more surgery was carried out in some areas highlighted in the survey as offering fewer operations.

A few recent news articles concerning the UK’s Conservative and Liberal-Democrat coalition government – the ConDem’s – brutal attack on the National Health Service.

British Medical Association Welcomes Government Concessions On NHS Competition

The BMA has welcomed a commitment from the government that it will not allow healthcare providers to compete for NHS contracts on the basis of price.

The government has laid amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill for England, changing the sections which would have made it possible for providers to bid for contracts at a price below the standard NHS tariff. The changes will also prevent the possibility of differential pricing between NHS and private providers.

‘Privatisation’ fears for NHS – Community – Pontefract Express

I AM a retired general practitioner having worked in Airedale for over 25 years.

The coalition government’s plan for the NHS could spell disaster for our local health services. The health and social care bill is going through parliament at the moment and its policies represent the biggest change to the NHS since it was founded in 1948. These changes will affect every patient in Pontefract and Castleford.

Our hospitals will be made into independent businesses and will be free to treat private patients possibly first and taking up precious beds.

BBC News – Isle of Wight to cut 600 NHS jobs

About 600 NHS Isle of Wight jobs out of a workforce of 3,000 (20%) could be lost over the next four years.

Health managers said they needed to make savings of up to £14m a year in order to safeguard essential services.

In a statement NHS Isle of Wight said future redundancies could not be ruled out if savings targets cannot be met through cost saving measures.

HealthInvestor – Article: NHS chief denies privatisation aim

Privatisation is not the motive behind the planned reforms of the NHS, the health service’s chief executive has said.

Speaking to GP magazine, Sir David Nicholson said: “’I wouldn’t want to be part of something that privatises the NHS.”

Instead, he suggested that the Health and Social Care Bill aims to “open up doors that haven’t been opened up before” in a bid to improve the quality of services.

NHS reform: regulation is ‘slack’ – Channel 4 News

Doctors are worried that NHS reforms do not include enough checks and balances to make sure patients are getting the best service, Channel 4 News understands.

The British Medical Association Council Chairman Hamish Meldrum told Channel 4 News: “It’s a real concern. We do support the idea of doctors getting more involved but not on an unmonitored basis. We do worry that some of the governance and oversight provisions in the bill are a bit slack.

“We had our issues with Primary Care Trusts [the bodies which currently commission care], but at least they were a local oversight who could step in if there were problems.”

Liberal Democrat rebels to challenge Clegg over ‘damaging’ NHS reforms | Society | The Guardian

Nick Clegg is facing possible defeat over the government’s NHS changes at his spring party conference next weekend when a heavyweight group of Liberal Democrat figures table an amendment opposing the “damaging and unjustified market-based approach”.

Evan Harris, a doctor and former MP and vice-chair of the party’s ruling federal policy committee, will table the amendment, supported by the former cabinet minister Lady Williams, registering their concerns that the current legislation will lead to a widening of UK health inequalities if left unchecked.

The government is proposing to give GPs control of more than 80% of the £100bn NHS budget at the same time as driving through efficiency savings of £20bn. The package includes the abolition of primary care trusts.

Cuts affect vital community mental health supporting Epsom and Ewell (From Your Local Guardian)

The workforce providing vital NHS mental health care services in Epsom and Ewell will be slashed by half.

Fifteen out of 30 community support roles in Epsom and Ewell will go as part of a radical shake-up, which will see Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS trust target services for those with the most severe or complex illnesses.

This is in addition to 30 posts already vacant across Surrey. It is part of a wider plan to save the trust £1.5m.

Patients at risk as NHS orders ‘ghost list’ purge | Mail Online

Thousands of patients face being removed from GP practices if they have not seen their doctor for six months.

After this time, if they fail to respond to two warning letters, their names will be removed from the surgery register.

NHS managers say they want to ensure lists are accurate and up to date.

But GPs claim many patients will be struck off without reason and then forced to re-register when they need to see a doctor.

CROWDS of doctors, nurses and trade unionists marched through Canterbury city centre on Saturday to protest about proposed cuts to the NHS.

CROWDS of doctors, nurses and trade unionists marched through Canterbury city centre on Saturday to protest about proposed cuts to the NHS.

Almost 100 people with banners and megaphones, including members campaign group Stop The Cuts, mingled among shoppers and chanted: “No ifs, no buts, no NHS cuts.”

Chris Weller, chairman of Stop The Cuts, warned “Local services are going to be devastated. In Kent, nine old peoples’ homes are shutting and 1,500 jobs are to be lost at the county council.

A few recent news articles concerning the UK’s Conservative and Liberal-Democrat coalition government – the ConDem’s – brutal attack on the National Health Service.

GPs used NHS commissioning surplus to fund basic practice costs and alternative medicine | News | Nursing Times

GPs have been able to boost their take-home pay by using commissioning funds rather than their general contractors’ income to buy basic medical equipment and fund practice refurbishments, an investigation by Nursing Times’ sister title has revealed.

Health Service Journal’s analysis shows almost £1m of commissioning surpluses generated through practice based commissioning were spent on basic general practice kit such as stethoscopes, otoscopes and waiting room chairs.

Surpluses were also spent on controversial complementary therapies, including aromatherapy and homeopathy.

Level of concern over NHS ‘reforms’ is becoming deafening, says Unite

The crescendo of concern over the ill-judged NHS reforms is becoming deafening, Unite, the largest union in the country, said today (Thursday 3 March).

Unite was commenting as the think tank, the Kings Fund, said that government plans to give more power over NHS decision making in England to GPs could make hospital reform difficult, and an online survey for the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested that the vast majority of doctors are not convinced that potential benefits of the government’s plans for the NHS in England outweigh the risks.

Unite general secretary, Len McCluskey, said: ”The evidence is mounting at an alarming rate from respected health organisations that the so-called reforms outlined in the Health and Social Care bill are ill-judged and badly thought out.

New Statesman – The coalition’s NHS U-turn

Two weeks ago, when I listed the coalition’s ten biggest U-turns, I suggested that the NHS was next in line. “The smart money is on the government watering down its reforms,” I wrote.

Sure enough, Andrew Lansley has announced a major U-turn over NHS price competition. The Health Secretary is planning to amend his own bill to prevent providers from charging a maximum, as opposed to a fixed, price for treatment. In other words, the private sector will not be handed free rein to offer temporary loss leaders and undercut the NHS.

The NHS Operating Framework, published in December, stated that hospitals would be free to offer services to commissioners “at less than the published mandatory tariff price”. But Lansley now tells the Financial Times: “We want the tariff to be a nationally regulated price, not a starting point for price competition. These amendments will put our intentions beyond doubt.”

It takes some chutzpah for him to claim that he never wanted to introduce price competition in the first place, but the U-turn should be welcomed all the same. As studies by the LSE and Imperial have shown, the limited experiment with price competition during the Major government led to a decline in standards of care.

UNISON Press | Press Releases Front Page

Commenting on Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley’s u-turn on introducing price competition into the NHS, Karen Jennings, Head of Health for UNISON said:

“In a remarkable u-turn Andrew Lansley has publically stated that price competition is not now a part of the Government’s plans for the NHS – a victory for common sense.

“UNISON wants this promise delivered, by making sure that NHS guidance reflects the policy change. The Government should have the operating framework amended to make it clear that there should be no price competition.

NHS reform could ‘destroy patient-doctor trust’ – Channel 4 News

A Channel 4 News investigation on Wednesday revealed that the NHS reforms could see GPs making decisions based on profit rather than the clinical needs of the patient.

While the Department of Health stressed that the potential conflict of interests would be managed, patient groups told Channel 4 News their concerns that this may not be the case.

Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, told Channel 4 News: “When the Government first announced its reform plan my first comment was on my concerns that there would be a conflict of interest. Now it is clear that those concerns were justified.

Out of hours care ”cut” in 25 per cent of trusts – Public Service

Even before the NHS has to achieve £20bn of savings, around 25 per cent of trusts are said to have cut their out of hours care services in their 2010/2011 budgets.

According to reports, roughly 20 of England’s 152 primary care trusts have cut a total of £4m off the money they pay out for evening and weekend services provided by GPs. In other trusts spending in this area went up by £3.6m.

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients’ Association, said the cuts could affect the level of care provided by GPs.

CAMPAIGNERS are stepping up opposition to controversial plans to ‘privatise’ NHS healthcare provision in Plymouth.

CAMPAIGNERS are stepping up opposition to controversial plans to ‘privatise’ NHS healthcare provision in Plymouth.

Unison is urging people to support its Say No to Social Enterprise campaign.

The union is holding a meeting at Stonehouse Creek on March 8 to highlight issues and raise awareness of the changes under way.

600 face axe from hospital

MORE than 600 health jobs are set to be axed as bosses at NHS Isle of Wight struggle to plug a massive £40 million black hole in their finances brought about by government spending cuts.
The jobs bombshell was dropped by NHS Isle of Wight chief executive, Kevin Flynn.
Speaking exclusively to the County Press, he revealed the equivalent of between 150 and 170 posts a year are set to go over the next four years as heath chiefs fight to bring down costs.

Fears for patient care as NHS reforms proposed – Today’s News – News – JournalLive

ALMOST 90% of doctors in the North East think increasing competition in the NHS will lead to services being fragmented, a new poll has revealed.

Some 62% believe competition between providers, including NHS and private companies, will reduce the quality of patient care, while 56% think the Government’s reforms mean they will spend less time with patients.

The survey was carried out in January, with 400 North East BMA members completing it.

Support for cut-threat hospice gathers pace – Health – lep.co.uk

Hospices today spoke out in a defiant united front against NHS cuts to funding.

It follows the Evening Post’s revelations that St Catherine’s Hospice in Lostock Hall, near Preston, is facing a cut in funding from primary care trust NHS Central Lancashire.

St Catherine’s Hospice, which provides a variety of services for seriously ill patients and their families, raises the bulk of the £4.6m a year it needs through public donations and fundraising.

The PCT stumps up 29%, £1.3m, but is now proposing to cut this by 1.5% compared to last year’s budget – a reduction in funding of about £19,500.

Lansley agrees to change Health Bill to prevent price competition | GP online

Health secretary Andrew Lansley has agreed to change the sections of the Health and Social Care Bill which would make it possible for providers to bid for contracts at a price below the standard NHS tariff.

He said the amendments will ‘put our intentions beyond doubt, sort out the confusion which we inherited from Labour, and put an end to the scaremongering we have seen.’ The DoH’s plans ‘have always been about competition on quality, not on price,’ he said.

BMA chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum said the health secretary has ‘not only listened to doctors’ views, but also acted on them.’

‘Price competition has been linked with lower quality and was of huge concern to the BMA and many others. There is of course still a long way to go to address all the concerns doctors have about the Bill, such as Monitor’s powers to enforce competition. We will continue to press for further improvements and hope the government will continue to listen.’

Petition against ward closure is handed in to NHS – 100 in 100 Apprenticeship campaign – The News

A 10,000-signature petition against the closure of an end-of-life care ward has been delivered to hospital bosses.

Campaigner Will Purvis, from the Save G5 Campaign Group, handed over five folders’ worth of signatures to Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust board members during a board meeting at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, yesterday.

He said: ‘It was always the intention to give the petition to the hospital trust board.

‘I hope that they will take note of it and the 10,000 people who signed it.

NHS Short Of Specialist Staff Despite Cuts, Says Medical Recruiter, UK

Despite major cuts to front line services in the NHS, the health service is still short of specialist medical staff. That’s the message from the new white paper on the medical employment market from Your World Recruitment, who also warns that the government must be careful not to store up problems for the future of the NHS.

The report reveals that although cuts across the board in the healthcare sector have led to a decline in medical jobs across the UK, at the same time there are still a number of opportunities out there, especially for GPs, nurses and other medical experts with very specialist skills. These skill shortages include cochlear implant specialists within audiology, paediatric occupational therapists and MRI / ultrasound experts within radiology. Although pay levels have frozen for many, certain jobs or hospitals that are struggling to find talent are driving up remuneration to attract the right people.

The white paper also tells of the increasing number of locum healthcare staff moving into permanent positions, mainly due to the increased job security in what is a challenging time for the public sector. With less jobs, longer waiting lists and less locums to fill temporary positions when hospitals get busy, Your World is warning that investment in staff needs to continue in order to avoid future problems and staff shortages.

NHS prescription charges to rise by 20p | Society | guardian.co.uk

The cost of prescriptions in England will rise to £7.40 per item from £7.20, the government has announced.

The move will come as a blow to campaigners, including the British Medical Association (BMA), who have been calling for charges to be scrapped altogether.

The Department of Health has also announced that dental charges will rise.

England is the only part of the UK still charging for prescriptions. They are free in Wales and Northern Ireland and will be free in Scotland from 1 April.

GPs say reforms will damage doctor-patient relationship, BMA poll finds | GP online

The wide-ranging poll highlights a number of serious concerns among GPs about the reforms, particularly around the impact of GP commissioning on patient care and the drive to increase competition in the NHS.

The BMA said it shows that the government can no longer claim widespread support among doctors for the reforms. It urged the government to act on the concerns raised by doctors.

The survey, which was carried out by Ipsos MORI, showed 72% think GP commissioning will damage the GP-patient relationship.

Cuts blamed as Lib Dems slump to sixth in vote | Reuters

(Reuters) – The Liberal Democrats said on Friday they were paying the price for a tough economic stance after plunging to sixth place in a northern election.

The Lib Dems had come second in May’s general election in the former mining town of Barnsley, just ahead of the Conservatives in a seat long held by Labour.

However, this time they came a humiliating sixth, behind the anti-EU UKIP, who pushed the Conservatives into third, the far-right BNP and an independent. Labour won comfortably despite their former MP being jailed for fiddling his expenses.