Health and Social Care Bill

Oral Answers to Questions — Health – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 21 February 2012.

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Photo of Stephen Hepburn Stephen Hepburn Labour, Jarrow 2:30, 21 February 2012

What recent representations he has received from health care professionals on the Health and Social Care Bill.

Photo of Anne Milton Anne Milton The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health

The Government have received a wide range of representations throughout the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, including from health care professionals, the public and voluntary bodies, and the trade unions.

Photo of Stephen Hepburn Stephen Hepburn Labour, Jarrow

The vast majority of people, whether they work for or use the health service, see the Bill for exactly what it is: a Tory plan to privatise the national health service. When will the Minister listen to people, stop trying to pull the wool over their eyes—it is not working—and scrap this tawdry Bill?

Photo of Anne Milton Anne Milton The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health

The only bit of the hon. Gentleman’s supplementary question that I recognise is a diatribe from the Labour party that perpetuates a myth about the Bill and fails to understand that the Bill is about the public of this country. This is about the people—patients—getting the health care that they need and deserve.

Photo of Therese Coffey Therese Coffey Conservative, Suffolk Coastal

May I pass on the representation of a health care professional in my constituency—one of the general practitioners involved in the commissioning group—who said that he felt the Health and Social Care Bill had been written for GPs, and that it was perfect for improving care in our community?

Photo of Anne Milton Anne Milton The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health

My hon. Friend echoes many of the comments that I have heard as I have gone around the country. Without the Bill, we cannot strip out primary care trusts and strategic authorities, which will save £4.5 billion over this Parliament. I cannot see anybody going out on a march to save PCTs and SHAs. The public want the outcomes and the quality of care that they deserve, which they were denied under the previous Government.