Our NHS is NOT for Sale

Cllr Pat O’Neil, Leader of the Labour Group put forward the following Motion today at the full East Riding of Yorkshire Council meeting in Beverley.

That this Council: -

· recognises that the Health Reform bill in its current form is unacceptable, and that there should now be a 'plan B' as an alternative to the bill which would make the NHS safe in the first instance and then take it forward in the longer term.

· will put aside Party differences and work on the reform of objectives we all share such as clinical involvement in commissioning and the funding of social care.

· writes to the Prime Minister, David Cameron, the Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley and our local MPs informing them of this Motion and asking them to oppose the Government’s proposals.


In supporting the Motion Cllr Keith Moore said, “That the Health and Social Care Bill was David Cameron’s Poll Tax”.

Cllr Paul Hogan said, “This at a time when the Commonwealth Fund in 2010 rated the NHS as one of, if not the best, Health Care Systems in the world in terms of efficiency, effective care and cost-related problems, better than Australia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand and USA”

Cllr Newlove, in supporting this Motion wanted to know “where the Liberal Democrat’s stood on the Bill”.

Cllr Mally Boatman added that “many professional bodies were against this Bill”.

Cllr Shelagh Finlay also strongly supported the Motion.

22 February 2012