NHS Reorganisation

Rosie Cooper Excerpts

Wednesday 16th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab)]

I have spoken in this place on several occasions about the deeply disturbing reforms that the Government are proposing to our national health service. On those occasions I have accused the Secretary of State of glibness and hubris, and as each day passes, as each new piece of information comes to light and as we scrutinise the detail of the Health and Social Care Bill, he proves my assertions right. He currently presides over what I can only describe as an unholy mess that will have huge negative consequences for the NHS and the people who love it and depend on it.

I tell the Secretary of State that the Opposition have seen through his plans, and the Liberal Democrats, who are on his side of the Chamber, see through them as well. Many of his colleagues are very nervous about them, and yesterday the British Medical Association and medical professionals made a clear and unequivocal statement that they, too, see through them. As the plans unfold further, I can tell hon. Members that patients and the British public see through them as well.

Despite the broken promises, the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister seem to think that their NHS reforms are a good idea. I am not sure that they are 100% convinced, though, given that they did not seem confident enough to share the details of their plans with the British public before the general election. In fact, the Prime Minister was very clear in his promise to the British people:

“no more pointless top-down reorganisations”

of the NHS. He even said:

“When your family relies on the NHS all of the time—day after day, night after night—you know how precious it is.”

How quickly forgotten those words were.

Some people felt reassured that, whatever else might happen if the Tories were elected, the NHS would be left untouched. How wrong they were. Today we find the NHS in a state of turmoil and facing massive reorganisation, with hundreds of health workers laid off and its very future threatened by a desire to set up a commercially driven market in health care. This very lunchtime, the Prime Minister said, “We are not reorganising the bureaucracy of the NHS. We are abolishing the bureaucracy of the NHS.” The bit he left off was that private providers would be doing that work. Who is he kidding?

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

rose—

[Dr Daniel Poulter (Central Suffolk and North Ipswich) (Con)]

rose—

[Rosie Cooper]

I give way.

[Graham Evans]

I thank the hon. Lady—

--- Later in debate ---

[Rosie Cooper]

No, I was giving way to—

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

Order. The hon. Lady will have to sit down during the hon. Gentleman’s intervention.

[Graham Evans]

I am new to the House, but I seem to recall the right hon. Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham), who was then the Secretary of State for Health, saying that we should

“celebrate the role of the private sector in the NHS.”

What has changed for Labour Members? [Interruption.]

[Rosie Cooper]

I am sorry, I did not hear the end of that.

[Graham Evans]

When he was Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Leigh said that we should be celebrating

“the role of the private sector in the NHS”.

What has changed since he made that comment?

[Rosie Cooper]

The health service was not an issue at the general election, and why? Because people broadly supported it and were not worried about the state that it was in. Government Members must listen to the furore that will happen and prepare to defend their seats in light of the decisions that they take now.

[Mr Steve Brine (Winchester) (Con)]

Will the hon. Lady give way?

[Rosie Cooper]

No, I have very little time now.

I believe that what Michael Portillo said on the BBC’s “This Week” programme was an accurate reflection of how the Government have sought to mislead the people of this country. When asked by Andrew Neil why the Government had not told us about the plans for the NHS prior to the general election, he responded:

“Because they didn’t believe they could win the election if they told you what they were going to do. People are so wedded to the NHS. It’s the nearest we have to a national religion—a sacred cow.”

He could not have been more clear: the Government intended to misrepresent their position and to mislead voters.

As I have said previously, this Conservative Government have been prepared to play to the gallery while playing Russian roulette with the future of people’s health services. That is still the case, but the gallery is now empty. They are on their own and have no mandate—

[Mrs Main]

On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. On two occasions the hon. Lady has accused the Government of misleading the public. I cannot believe that that is the case, and I am sure she would like to withdraw those remarks.

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

Order. That is not a point of order, because the accusation was not against individual Members.

[Rosie Cooper]

Oh how the truth hurts! Michael Portillo could not have been more clear that the Government intended to misrepresent their position and to mislead voters.

I believe very clearly that you are playing Russian roulette with people’s futures, but the gallery is empty and you are on your own. I still believe that you have no mandate for these ill-advised reforms. You do not have that support, and it seems to me you do not have a clue—[Interruption.] It is impossible to make a speech with that noise.

I shall just recap. I do not believe that you have any mandate for these reforms. You do not have the support out there and it seems to me that you do not have a clue. For goodness’ sake, stop now before you kill the NHS.

[Several hon. Members]

rose—