Withdraw health bill, say child experts

Those who voted did so by almost four-to-one (79 per cent) in favour of "outright withdrawal" of the Health and Social Care Bill. The decision is another blow to the Prime Minister and Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, who have vowed to press on with Bill, which is currently being debated in the House of Lords. The paediatricians join - amongst others - the Royal College of GPs, the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nurses, and the Faculty of Health, in calling for the Bill to be dropped. Doctors are concerned it could harm patient care and lead to increasing privatisation of NHS services, fears dismissed by the Government. Professor Terence Stephenson, president of the RCPCH, said: "It is clear that a substantial majority of our voting members believe that the Health and Social Care Bill carries risk for children and young people. "Despite revisions and assurances from Government, there remains widespread and deep concern amongst not only our members, but also the wider health profession and public, about the Bill’s impact on patient care." Prof Stephenson was amongst those invited to Monday's health 'summit' at Number 10. He has come in for criticism from some of his medical colleagues for appearing to back the bill. However, he clarified: "The RCPCH has never at any stage supported the Bill but we have consistently engaged with Government to try and push for amendments to ensure the best outcomes for children. "Although we have secured some changes – such as the Children’s Forum – it’s our membership’s views that these do not go far enough. "At the NHS Summit which I attended earlier this week, the Prime Minister made it clear that the Government will press ahead with the Bill. "Yet pushing the Bill through is creating disaffection amongst the very people – the clinicians – who will be delivering these changes on the ground when the reality is that there are areas of reform where the healthcare profession are in agreement, most obviously the principle of clinically led commissioning and improving how services are delivered. "All those representing healthcare professionals need to be brought together to thrash out how these areas of consensus can be effectively put into practice." Only one in seven members of the RCPCH actually voted, meaning less than a tenth actively called for withdrawal, a matter taken up by Simon Burns, the Health Minister. He said: "Only 1,200 out of the college's 13,500 members voted to take this position. "The RCPCH said only last month that our focus on children's health provides a real opportunity to improve the health of children and young people around the country. "They also welcomed the principles of greater integration and information about services, and moving decision making to the frontline. "In fact, the Health and Social Care Bill will help address the very concerns raised, and makes sure the health system works together better for children, young people and their families." But Andy Burnham, the Shadow Health Secretary, said it was time for the Prime Minister to "admit he has lost the argument". He said: "Andy Burnham MP, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, said in response to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health calling on the Government to withdraw the Health Bill: "This week things have gone from bad to worse for the Prime Minister. Just days after inviting the Royal College to his Downing Street charm offensive they deliver an emphatic rejection of his Health Bill. "It is a clear illustration of how he is losing the argument and any residual support he may claim is ebbing away. "Despite David Cameron's protestations, health professionals can see his Bill for what it is - a privatisation plan for the NHS. "It is now time for him to be honest with the country and admit he has lost the argument and drop his Bill."