MPs back bill designed to limit NHS 'privatization'

[LeftishBrit]

A bill which aims to curb the private sector's role in the NHS has cleared its first parliamentary hurdle.

Under the bill, compulsory tendering for NHS contracts would end and NHS hospitals' income generated by private patients would be restricted.

Although MPs backed it in a vote by 241 to 18, as a private member's bill it has only a slim chance of becoming law....


It would restore ultimate responsibility for the NHS to the health secretary, stop NHS hospitals earning up to 49% of their income from private patients, and would exempt the NHS from an EU-US trade treaty known as TTIP.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-30137368

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. I got excited by this at first, but it looks like they can kill it in committee easily

The non-voting by the government looks like an excuse to avoid the election problems of "you were in favour of NHS privatisation", while letting it proceed in practice.

[T_i_B]

2. 2nd vote Govenment has lost in a week

They were also defeated on an amendment to the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill concerning PubCo's, following a large campaign lead by CAMRA.

http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story/45468/govt_loses_pubco_vote.html

I think the point here is that people need to keep lobbying their MP's to vote the right way, otherwise they will continue to vote through bad legislation.

And at some point people are going to have to start lobbying members of the Lords as well, to ensure that good legislation doesn't get quashed further down the line.