NHS England has been holding a consultation (not that many of the public would know) about proposed legislation to make “new NHS statutory bodies”. The problem is these “new NHS Bodies” will give more control (and profit) to USA companies and further restrict our access to NHS and social care services.
We have joined Keep Our NHS Public, 999 Call for the NHS, WeOwnIt and other campaign groups around the country and responded fittingly to their questions about new legislation. In addition to this consultation it is vital now that the nation discusses the truth about what are called “Integrated Care Systems” – modelled on USA Accountable Care Organisations.
This is a leaflet you can download to find out more about this important issue.
Keep Our NHS Public gave useful answers for campaigners to think about and we used them to form our own response. Below is an excerpt of our submission to NHS England and you can download the complete pdf at the end of the page.
Do you agree that giving ICSs a statutory footing from 2022, alongside other legislative proposals, provides the right foundation for the NHS over the next decade?
Strongly disagree
If you have any specific comments or additional information to provide, please provide it in the text box below::
Strongly disagree
comments or additional information:
a) This is a very ‘top down’ exercise with little justification other than the hope it will allow tighter controls on spending.
b) Claims that functioning ICSs have already demonstrated significant improvements in patient care are only wishful thinking and not evidence based.
c) The plan for ICSs is not focussed on improving care for patients but on binding NHS organisations by financial controls and plans written by the ICS with advice from companies accredited under the Health Systems Support Framework.
d) The NHS needs re-integration by abolishing the 2012 H&SC Act altogether and removing the competitive market and the purchaser-provider split.
e) Facilitating even more contracting out of services and management structures including the private sector is not ‘integration’ but ‘dis-integration’.
f) NHSE/I legislative proposals include the removal of Public Contracts Regulation safeguards over social, environmental and labour standards, and the ability to rule out bidders on the basis of their track record. It will expand the scope for scandals like the PPE contracts awarded without procurement to firms with no relevant experience.
g) Other legislative proposals would embed “population health management” as a binding aim for all NHS organisations, without evidence that this will improve patient access to universal, comprehensive healthcare, free at the point of need, publicly provided and publicly accountable, funded through public funding.
HOH: Given the current situation with COVID 19 now is not the time to be making rewriting of NHS Legislation which will cause more confusion and distress to both staff and patients.
Here is our FULL response to the NHSE ICS consultation.
TO VISIT KEEP OUR NHS PUBLIC CLICK HERE