Many Bristol West constituents have contacted me about the Health and Social Care bill, which will reform the NHS.
I should begin by saying that it is heartening that so many people are concerned about the future of the NHS. I share those concerns. Like many people in Bristol West, I have family members who have benefited from NHS care. I am also a long term patient of the NHS. I would not support or condone anything that threatened the ethos of British health care, that everyone should have free access to the highest quality care.
You will understand from reports of our recent Spring Conference that although Liberal Democrats welcome some of the aspirations of the Bill - decreased bureaucracy, more local accountability, involvement of clinicians and the focus on health - we share some of the concerns expressed in many quarters about other aspects of the Bill.
Any future blueprint for the NHS needs to recognise the need for collaboration, co-operation and integration in the delivery of NHS services and this cannot be done with an exclusive reliance on competition as the sole driving force for improvement.
I am determined that any prospect of the Bill's proposals to result in 'cherry picking' of NHS services by private firms to the detriment of sustainable NHS facilities must be avoided. Any organisation charged with spending precious NHS resources needs to be accountable, transparent and capable.
I am very anxious that forthcoming changes to be suggested for the legislation carry both broad public and patient support and the endorsement of those working in the NHS who want to see a better service.
Liberal Democrats are currently working with all groups constructively engaged in getting the right framework for the NHS and are acutely conscious of the possible effects of unmanageable change.
This whole issue is of paramount importance and if in the next weeks you would wish to be further involved with this on-going dialogue, please get in touch. I will be writing to interested constituents again once firm conclusions have been reached and the House of Commons gets its next opportunity to debate the revised Bill.
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