Is this the end of the NHS? – Debate

Health Select Committee Member, Andrew George MP, is calling on fellow MPs and the public to “wake up” to the risks to the NHS of Government policy before it’s too late.

The Government’s controversial Health Bill – which survived an unprecedented “pause” and a “listening exercise” earlier in the summer – will go through its remaining Commons stages as soon as MPs get back from recess in early September (6th and 7th).

Mr George, who has refused to support the Government Bill and strongly attacked the proposals, believes that the Bill could still damage the NHS more than it will help it in spite of the ‘pause’ and changes. He has now called a public meeting in his constituency the week before the Commons debates the issue – Wednesday 31st August 2011 at 7.30pm at St John’s Hall in Penzance – when he will invite national speakers and local people to debate the issues.

Mr George said: “I’m pleased that earlier protests resulted in some improvements to the Bill following the ‘pause’ and ‘listening exercise’. However, it has still not dealt with some of the major risks the Bill represents – particularly the creation of an NHS independent of Government and the future role of the private sector in running great swathes of much of our public health services.”