Unions join Health Bill opposition

Jan 19 2012

The main medical unions have declared all-out opposition to the Government's Health Bill.

Both the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) have called for the Bill to be scrapped.

It follows a move by the British Medical Association (BMA) in December to also fully oppose the Health and Social Care Bill, currently going through Parliament.

The RCN, which is the biggest nursing union, said "serious concerns" have not been addressed during the parliamentary process, listening exercise or political engagement.

Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the RCN, said: "Opposing this Bill is not a decision we have taken lightly - we have worked hard on behalf of all our members to influence the decisions that have been taken as the Bill has gone through Parliament.

"However, it is now clear that these 'reforms' are forging ahead on the ground - without the concerns of nurses and other clinicians being heeded. We have sought a range of assurances, but now feel that the reforms as they stand could have the opposite effect from that which was intended."

The RCM added that the Bill was "divisive and costly". RCM chief executive Cathy Warwick said: "This Bill is a massively expensive distraction from the challenges that the NHS faces in trying to improve healthcare at a time of severe spending restraint."

A spokeswoman for the BMA said: "We are pleased that the RCN and the RCM have moved to a position that reflects our own and will continue to work with them with the aim of getting the Government to drop this flawed Bill."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "We're disappointed that these Royal Colleges have come to this position.

"During the course of the past 12 months we have been working with nursing groups to shape our plans for a modern NHS. For example, nurses will be represented on local clinical commissioning groups."