NHS reforms “biggest political cover-up in a generation” says Labour MP
Press Releases / February 15, 2012 / Comment now
Grahame Morris writes to Health Secretary calling for immediate publication of ‘strategic risk registers’
Andrew Lansley’s ongoing cover-up of the risks posed to the NHS by his unpopular reforms is facing growing opposition in Parliament. A Labour MP has today written to the embattled Health Secretary to ask for the immediate publication of documents which could show the true extent of the risk to the NHS of Coalition reforms.
A controversial “risk register” produced by Department of Health Officials is being withheld by the Health Secretary even after an explicit ruling by the Information Commissioner for the document to be published.
Grahame Morris, a member of the powerful Commons Health Select Committee, has written:
“Whilst I understand it is your right to continue to appeal the ruling of the Information Commissioner set out in November 2011, I believe you are acting against the wishes and expectations of the general public, professional organisations, Royal Colleges, trades unions, patient groups and a whole spectrum of NHS stakeholders. The debate surrounding the future of the NHS should, at a minimum, be had in an open and transparent manner that should include the publication of the strategic risk register.
It is believed that the document details some of the potentially disastrous consequences of Lansley’s reforms including increasing waiting times and rising costs. Labour is planning to hold a debate on the publication of the risk register in the Commons later this month as part of its ‘three months to save the NHS’ campaign.
In separate comments Mr. Morris said: “Reform of the NHS is a matter of the most serious consequence. If the Health Secretary is suppressing a report that shows his reforms could put patients at risk and worsen the functioning of the NHS, he would be guilty of the biggest political cover-up in a generation.”
There is growing support in Parliament for an Early Day Motion tabled by Grahame Morris calling for the publication of the ‘Risk Register’ on Health and Social Care Reforms. The motion has gained the support of 75 MPs including thirteen Liberal Democrats in just a few days.
Mr. Morris went on to say, “David Cameron has chosen to back his unpopular Health Secretary over one of our nation’s most trusted institutions, the NHS. It’s a choice that even members of his own Cabinet think is ‘barmy’.”
“The arrogance of Andrew Lansley knows no bounds. Not only did he conceal the scale of his privatisation plans before the General Election, he is now covering up the potential risks they pose in an attempt to quash any informed democratic debate on the matter.”
In his ruling back in November the Information Commissioner Christopher Graham said: “Disclosure would significantly aid public understanding of risks related to the proposed reforms and it would also inform participation in the debate about the reforms.”
The Health Secretary has taken every step possible to keep the report under wraps by refusing to meet the deadline for publishing the ‘risk register’ following the ruling, and instead appealing the Information Commissioner’s decision.
In March, NHS Chief Executive David Nicholson told the Public Accounts Committee: “I’ll not sit here and tell you that the risks have not gone up. They have. The risks of delivering the totality of the productivity savings, the efficiency savings that we need over the next four years have gone up because of the big changes that are going on in the NHS as a whole.”
ENDS
