Government faces tense hospital reform vote
The government is facing a potentially embarrassing defeat in the House of Commons today as it struggles to push through its controversial health bill.
Tony Blair and the Labour leadership have been working hard over the past week to rally support from backbench MPs, many of whom are opposed to plans to increase the number of foundation hospitals.
The sports minister Richard Caborn has been recalled from Australia to take part in the vote and now looks set to miss England’s appearance in the Rugby World Cup Final – evidence of how close the government believes it could come to defeat.
Foundation hospitals have become a key battleground for the leadership as it forges ahead with its plans to involve the private sector in almost every aspect of public service delivery.
Proposals to allow more NHS trusts to apply for foundation status face strong opposition from within the Labour Party and the trade union movement.
Opponents of the scheme claim that allowing top performing hospitals greater financial freedom could lead to a two-tier health service.
Despite the disquiet the bill has caused, the government maintains that foundation hospitals have a key role to play in improving NHS performance.
Tory leader Michael Howard has attacked the plans for foundation hospitals as ‘a sham’.
He told BBC Radio Four’s ‘World at One’: “It wouldn’t create the kind of real foundation hospital with real freedom which would transform the ability of the National Health Service to improve the way in which patients are treated.”
Mr Howard added that a defeat on the issue of NHS reform would be a massive blow to the government, claiming: “If a government elected with as large a majority as this one actually loses a vote in the House of Commons, the consequences would be extremely serious. It would really shake the government to its very foundation.”
