Labour split over foundation trusts exposed
pharmafile | October 27, 2003 | News story | |Â Â Â
Deep divisions within the Labour party over foundation hospitals have been further exposed in the House of Commons.
More than 100 MPs, most of them Labour, have signed a parliamentary petition warning that the service would create a two-tier NHS.
Labour MP and Chairman of the Commons Health Committee David Hinchcliffe raised his concerns about the plans to allow top-performing hospital trusts greater financial and operational autonomy.
He said foundation hospitals could be a "Trojan horse" for a future Conservative government to re-introduce a two-tier health service.
He asked ministers to respond to the concerns by waiting for the conclusion of the Health Committee inquiry before announcing the first wave of foundation trusts, scheduled for this summer.
Shadow Health Secretary Dr Liam Fox said his party backed the model, but urged the Government to allow the trusts even greater freedom.
He said a "fundamental split" among ministers meant some believed delivery at any cost was acceptable, while others believed the founding principles should be preserved.
He added that the Government had still to reply to over 50 questions tabled in the Commons on the details of the foundation trust plans.
"The whole thing smacks of being made up as it goes along," he added. "It is a panic response from the Government that feels it has to produce reform."
The Liberal Democrats have said the Government entire NHS policy is confused, Health Spokesman Dr Evan Harris saying: he more Alan Milburn describes his foundation hospitals policy, the more muddled and inconsistent it becomes.
"In trying to please the right wing free marketers in 10 Downing Street, at the same time as appeasing Labour rebels loyal to 11 Downing Street, he is trying to have it both ways and ending up satisfying no-one."
Alan Milburn greatest critic within the Labour Party has been his predecessor, Frank Dobson. He told the Health Secretary the whole foundation trust policy should be abandoned.
"Ignore this individualised specialised treatment for a limited number of privileged hospitals, which are bound to bring about a two tier service which will damage the NHS and blur the distinction between our party and its wonderful record on the health service and the Tories and their abominable record on the health service," he said.
Mr Milburn refuted claims the plans would divide the NHS, saying, "the reverse is the case."
He said the changes would help raise standards across the NHS, and put distance between the policy and what he said were Tory plans to privatise the service.
"Their programme is cutback and closure. Labour programme is investment plus reform. It is this programme which will deliver improvement in the NHS."
