Responding to the Second Reading of the Health and Care bill, which
will reorganise the NHS and hand more powers to the Health
Secretary, Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson said:
"The Government are kidding themselves if they think reorganising
the NHS is a simple and straightforward task. With well over five
million people now waiting for medical treatment, including
16,000 people suffering with cancer, and the pandemic being far
from over, now is not the time to embark on a major and
disruptive restructuring of the NHS.
“This is not only the wrong time for this Bill but it makes
barely any mention of reform to social care. Every year thousands
of vulnerable people lie stranded in hospitals long after they
could have been discharged because there is nowhere for them to
go. Integration of the NHS is almost meaningless without first
tackling the issues with our social care system and improving
conditions for care workers and unpaid carers.
“We struggle to see why the Government needs more powers to
tackle these urgent problems. The Government should not be
meddling in the day to day running of the NHS, its independence
should be protected.
“A well-organised and well-run NHS is key to keeping people
living longer and healthier lives but the Liberal Democrats do
not believe that this Bill will achieve that. We will vote
against it at Second Reading.”
