By: Martin McKee

Martin McKee — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:42:06 +0000

Edward,
Read what those of us criticising the Bill are saying. You are right in saying that we won't end up with a US style health system. But you are wrong if you think this is not the intention of the Bill. The problem is that there are four quite separate things going on:
a) what the Bill says (while also reading related laws on competition etc. that give the words meaning) – and it clearly opens the door for a free market
b) what the Secretary of State seems to think it says (which is clearly different from a) otherwise he would realise that he won't be able to order nurses to do hourly ward rounds etc.
c) what the National Commissioning Board is implementing – entirely different from a) and as if it didn't exist
d) what will happen – a mystery but unlikely to be good.
But the Bill does matter, as that is what the courts etc. will use when disputes occur – see Co-operation and Competition Panel escalation of challenge to York PCT and Foundation Trust.
Otherwise you will find yourself in the position of Arthur Dent in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy when told that his house (and the earth) were due to be demolished. The demolition crew and and the Vogons pointed out that these had been announced, it was his fault for not reading them. This time the message is in the opaque wording of the Bill, not on a different planet or “down two darkened flights of stairs behind a locked doo with a sign saying beware of the hungry leopard”. But do take Douglas Adams' advice please.

Comments on: Edward Davies: Hysteria. There, I said it.

By: Martin McKee