Briefing Documents on the Bill

The Observer recently featured an article about the role of the Medical Royal Colleges in halting the passage of the Health and Social Care bill through Parliament. Opposition from the colleges is important as they are the professional bodies concerned with teaching, training, research and standards of care. They can’t be accused of self interested union behaviour.

Congratulations to all the members who have used this website to call upon their colleges to hold Emergency General Meetings (EGMs) to discuss opposition to the bill. Most colleges have either now come out against the bill or have EGMs planned in the near future.

Many people, including doctors and other health professionals, are still unclear about the bill and the likely consequences if it is passed. We have therefore put together a briefing document for the general public and hope it will also be useful for those doctors attending forthcoming EGMs of their college to debate the bill. You can find it here. Please feel free to use it and distribute it far and wide.

We would also like to direct you to some useful documents and articles to update you on the Bill and its impact on the NHS and our patients. This picture shows just how many groups are opposed to the Bill - and those who seem to be in favour - well worth a look! There was also a longer article in the Lancet detailing some of the major concerns from the well respected academic Professor Allyson Pollock.

Senior Liberal Democrats (and former doctors!) are now voicing many concerns over the Bill. Indeed Lord Owen has written a very insightful article here.

We heard some time ago from our Prime Minister making a statement that every NHS staff member welcomed at the time - but it hasn't somehow come about...

There are worrying implications for GP commissioners working under the Health and Social Care Bill. The legal implications are vast. This is an excellent paper to update you on the issues.

Update

The Royal College of Physicians (London) have now decided to ballot all their members on their views on the Bill and in another vote decided to oppose the Bill which is a significant move for such a large body representing hospital physicians.

We also see the organisation representing doctors who look after older people - the British Geriatrics Society - withdraw support for the Bill now. It is difficult to find any organisation that now supports this Bill.

Many thanks again for your support and please keep your eye on this website for more updates soon.