“…Under cover of Devolution, local authorities and Combined Authorities are gaining the freedom to take their own piece of the NHS pie and dish it out as they see fit. By 2020, there may be a patchwork of local health services, ushered in by local authorities, starting with the 10 Labour-controlled authorities in Greater Manchester’s Devo Manc deal, but potentially spreading across England. The real prospectus is a devolved, deregulated, local service, partly privatised, its social care component already 90% privatised, facing a meltdown in local authority finance, competing with other localities for patients and funds, with local pay and conditions for healthworkers, and all branded as “integrated”.
If so, those who want to rescue our National Health Service will need more than a repeal of the Health & Social Care Act (2012). The NHS will need renationalising in a truly integrated form, eliminating the internal market and restoring the legal responsibilities of the Secretary of State. The NHS Bill, backed by Jeremy Corbyn and Caroline Lucas but yet to win the endorsement of any major party, would do this. But there will be facts on the ground to confront as well. …”
East Devon Watch 