Next Friday March 11th Caroline Lucas will take the NHS Reinstatement Bill back to the House of Commons. [1] I have emailed and tweeted Barry Gardiner MP to ask him to attend the debate. I hope others will do so for their constituency MP.
The private members bill has received cross-party support and has among its signatories Jeremy Corbyn, who signed up before becoming Labour Party leader.
The bill would reinstate the secretary of state’s responsibility for the health of UK citizens, something the Health and Social Care Act removed. It would fully restore the NHS as an accountable public service by reversing 25 years of marketization in the NHS.
Many MPs return to their constituencies on Thursday nights but thousands of people have signed a petition urging their representatives to vote in favour on the NHS Reinstatement Bill next Friday. [2]
Caroline Lucas MP said:
[1] The NHS Reinstatement Bill:
[2] Petition in favour of the NHS Bill
The private members bill has received cross-party support and has among its signatories Jeremy Corbyn, who signed up before becoming Labour Party leader.
The bill would reinstate the secretary of state’s responsibility for the health of UK citizens, something the Health and Social Care Act removed. It would fully restore the NHS as an accountable public service by reversing 25 years of marketization in the NHS.
Many MPs return to their constituencies on Thursday nights but thousands of people have signed a petition urging their representatives to vote in favour on the NHS Reinstatement Bill next Friday. [2]
Caroline Lucas MP said:
I hope that MPs stick around next Friday to have a say on the future of our health service.
This mobilisation of grass roots campaigners and NHS staff is hugely inspiring. Across the country we’re seeing people making a stand against the ongoing marketization of our health service. The NHS is saddled with a wasteful internal market, and increasingly widespread outsourcing of services. When you add this privatisation to the near-constant Government attacks on the NHS workforce you can see why so many people are supporting the NHS Bill.
The NHS bill would put the public back at the heart of the health service. MPs now have a chance to put their commitment to a public NHS into action by backing this bill on 11th March.
If we work together we can save our crisis ridden health service for future generations.
[1] The NHS Reinstatement Bill:
[2] Petition in favour of the NHS Bill
Thank you for giving this matter the publicity it deserves, Martin. I don't remember hearing about this Bill previously in the national media.
ReplyDeleteI don't write to my M.P. about any issues without considering them carefully myself, but having followed the LINK to the Bill and read / thought about its contents, I can see why you are encouraging "Wembley Matters" readers to do so. Here is the text of the email which I have just sent to Barry Gardiner:-
'Dear Mr Gardiner,
I understand that the second reading of the National Health Service Bill 2015/16 is due to take place in the House of Commons on Friday 11th March.
I have read this Bill online (at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2015-2016/0037/cbill_2015-20160037_en_1.htm ) and believe that it would greatly improve the way in which the N.H.S. in England is organised, and is accountable to both Parliament and the people of this country.
I have no doubt that some changes would be made to the Bill at Committee stage, but it is a piece of proposed legislation, on a subject close to the hearts of many of your constituents, which deserves the opportunity to be properly considered by you and your Parliamentary colleagues.
I hope that you will attend the second reading debate on Friday, and will vote in favour of the Bill. I look forward to hearing how you have acted on this issue. Thank you.'
Philip.