Prime minister's hollow promises won't shield NHS from destructive
bill, warns Unite
7 June 2011
Promises today (Tuesday) from the prime minister to "protect"
the NHS will be meaningless if his government remains determined to
force through the most significant and controversial rewriting of
the NHS' mission in its 60 year history.
Unite, the country's biggest union, says that widespread distrust
of the government's plans to dismantle the NHS have forced the
prime minister into the astonishing position of making yet another
declaration of commitment to the national health service.
However, his words will be met with justified voter anger if, as
feared, the pause on the Health and Social Care bill results in
little or no change to the competition-first proposals which have
attracted an astonishing degree of criticism from health
professionals.
Unite adds that promises to keep waiting lists "low" insult the
thousands of people now facing an 18-week or more wait since the
government scrapped waiting time commitments as one of its first
acts in office.
Rachael Maskell, Unite national officer for the health sector,
said: "It looks like the prime minister and his deputy, Nick Clegg,
have been spinning us a line. Despite the phenomenal criticism of
their health bill, their listening exercise was a sham. They are
determined that the wasteful competition ethic will be imposed upon
the NHS.
"Promises from David Cameron today will not shield patients from
a government hell-bent on shackling the NHS to the legislation that
will destroy it.
"The debacle of Southern Cross shows all too clearly what
happens when competition, cost-cutting and regulatory failure seize
hold of an essential service. Tens of thousands of vulnerable
people suffer.
"Our legislators will never be forgiven if they now deliver NHS
services into a similar fate.
"And neither will the public trust the prime minister when one
of his promises- low waiting lists - was undermined within moments
of his government taking office. When it scrapped waiting targets
at the stroke of a pen, it left tens of thousands of patients in
uncertainty and distress. Vague promises now, while remaining
committed to a bill that will surely mean the return of a postcode
lottery of care, are simply an insult.
"All those with the power in parliament must now see past hollow
words to the reality of the bill that will soon be before them.
Health professionals understand that the only way to continue to
improve our NHS is through consensus and with the values of quality
care put firmly first. Promises are not the same as consensus.
"The only promise on the NHS worth making now, prime minister,
is the one to drop this bill and start all over again."
ENDS
For further information, please contact the Unite press office on
020 3371 2065
