Ministers harden stance on NHS bill

Ministers have stepped up their attacks on health groups opposing the reform of the National Health Service, as debate surrounding the bill becomes increasingly bitter.

The government had previously wanted to try to keep groups such as the British Medical Association and the Royal College of GPs on board, but as their opposition has hardened so has the rhetoric against them.

Simon Burns, the health minister who has taken over much of the presentation of the bill, told MPs on Tuesday that the groups opposed to the government were “trade unions that do not represent the views of GPs up and down the country”.

This echoes previous criticism by Andrew Lansley, the health secretary, that the “trade union aspect” of the Royal College of Nursing had overtaken the organisation and comes just a day after several professional groups were shut out of a Number 10 summit to discuss the health reforms.

Andy Burnham, shadow health secretary, said: “The secretary of state said that he would listen to doctors and nurses but yesterday shut the door of Number 10 Downing Street in their faces.” Labour accused the coalition of playing “divide and rule” over their decision not to invite organisations including the BMA, the RCGP and the RCN.

Mr Burnham also revealed that one senior doctor was facing disciplinary action from the chief executive of their own care trust after signing a letter against the bill.

“Clearly, PCTs should not be employing heavy-handed tactics,” said Mr Burns. “Instead, they should be supporting GPs as we hand power to doctors and nurses on the frontline.”

Mr Lansley was put in an embarrassing situation on Monday when he was accosted outside the gates of Downing Street by a pensioner who accused him of “privatising” the NHS in front of a line of television cameras.

The prime minister on Tuesday restated his backing for his under-fire health secretary. “Andrew Lansley understands the health service better than anyone else in parliament and has my support,” David Cameron said.

But Mr Lansley’s problems then deepened when a Conservative backbencher added his name to the growing number of MPs calling for the government to overturn the decision not to publish its impact assessment of the NHS bill, known as the “risk register”. Mark Field said: “Given the controversy about health, it seems particularly ill-advised to not publish it. This and all supporting papers should be fully published and I’d be very surprised if Andrew Lansley didn’t do this.”

The information commissioner has already ruled that ministers should publish it but the government has since lodged an appeal, which will be judged early next month. Now ministers face another grilling as MPs vote on Wednesday on a Labour motion calling for the register to be published.

Mr Lansley faces a sizeable rebellion, with 13 Liberal Democrats having called for publication. They include Duncan Hames, a parliamentary aide to Ed Davey, energy secretary.