Labour conference votes ‘no’ on foundation hospitals
The Labour Government has suffered a humiliating defeat over plans for foundation hospitals.
Delegates at the party conference in Bournemouth voted against the controversial plans in a show of hands today.
A motion tabled by union Unison opposing the scheme was carried, despite an impassioned plea by Health Secretary Dr John Reid for party members to support Labour’s plans.
However, the Government appears determined not to back down over its plans to reform the NHS.
This morning, Prime Minister Tony Blair, leapt to the defence of foundation hospitals, claiming that the initial plans had come from health service workers and not from the Government.
He insisted that the ‘status quo won’t do’ when it comes to reform of the NHS in his interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Dr Reid told delegates at the conference that failure to support foundation hospitals would be a “betrayal” of the health service.
He insisted that the planned reforms would help speed up health services and open up choice to patients.
In a clear message to union leaders who oppose the proposals, he said: ‘It is the wishes and needs of the working people that take precedence not the old structures and the old systems.’
In his speech at the end of a debate on health and social care, Dr Reid told the conference: ‘If your child, or your mother was in pain, and the means to relieve it quicker were available, free at the point of need, would you refuse them it? I wouldn’t.
‘And if I wouldn’t refuse that relief to my family, then I’m not going to refuse it to any other family in the country.’
Retiring TGWU leader Bill Morris attacked plans for foundation hospitals, saying they would be a ‘self inflicted wound’ and ‘a gift to future Tory Governments to destroy the health services.’
Unison head Dave Prentis called on delegates to support the motion against the foundation hospitals and criticised the Government for failing to consult widely enough on the proposals.
He claimed the plans were ‘not about devolution’, but were instead about ‘dividing the best from the rest’.
The results of a second vote on a motion backing the government on foundation hospitals will be revealed later.
The Government faces serious opposition from backbench MPs, party members and healthcare professionals who are concerned that foundation hospitals will create a two-tier health service.
Under the scheme hospitals could opt out of government control and become independent not-for-profit organisations. They would have the power to borrow money privately and set their own priorities.
