Margaret Greenwood MP – Press Release

Margaret Greenwood MP has today (7 July 2016) released a press release about tabling the NHS Bill as a cross party Bill on 13 July 2016.

Below is the press release in full.

 

Margaret Greenwood MP to bring bill to Parliament to stop NHS privatisation

Labour MP for Wirral West Margaret Greenwood will present a bill on the NHS to Parliament next Wednesday 13th July.

The purpose of the Bill is to stop the privatisation of the NHS and return it to its founding principles. It would remove competition and the profit motive as a driver of policy and replace them with the public service ethos which has been the hallmark of the NHS since its foundation.

Margaret Greenwood MP said:

“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to present this Bill to the House of Commons on 13th July. Doctors, nurses and campaigners across the country have been working tirelessly to combat the privatisation of the NHS that we are seeing.

“The Health and Social Care Act 2012 provided the framework for the privatisation of the National Health Service.

“Currently NHS hospitals are allowed to make up to 49% of their money from private patients. It’s is a national scandal. Nobody voted for that, and yet that’s exactly what the Coalition government passed the law to do.”

“The 2012 Act also made it a requirement that all NHS contracts should go out to competitive tender. As a result we are seeing big private health care companies snapping up contracts, taking them from existing NHS providers.

“This means that money that should be spent on health care is going into the pockets of shareholders. It’s just plain wrong.

“The NHS Bill which I will present to Parliament next week is designed to put a stop to this.

 “The Bill makes the case for a planned, state-managed health service, and reinstates the duty of the Secretary for  State of Health to provide and secure a comprehensive National Health Service in England.

“The Bill also provides for the integration of health and social care.

“The NHS is currently on life support, and the public, patients and NHS staff know it.

“This bill provides a viable alternative. The NHS was 68 years old this week. We need to make sure it’s there for all who need it for the next 68 years too.”

The Bill is what is known as a Ten Minute Rule Bill and has cross party support.

It is hoped that the bill will progress to a second reading later in the year.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

  1. For more information contact the office of Margaret Greenwood MP on 0207 219 4608.

Margaret Greenwood MP

Member of Parliament for Wirral West

0207 219 4608