NHS the Legal Findings are now in

Information Provided by  38 Degrees

In Just one week your MP has to vote on massive changes to our NHS. but 38 Degrees members now have something our MPs don't - thorough, independent legal advice about what these changes really mean,

Our expert legal advice is sobering. Despite the "listening exercise", the Government's changes to the NHS plans could still pave the way for a shift towards a US-style health system, where private companies profit at the expense  of patient care.

MPs are being told by the Government that the NHS is safe. If they read our evidence they will know that the spin doesn't stand up. We can put them under massive pressure to vote to save our NHS. So we need to work together to get the legal advice to our MPs right now.

Email your MP now:

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/email-the-evidence 

Our Independent lawyers have identified two major problems in the new legislation:

• The Secretary of State's legal duty to provide a health service will be scrapped. On top of that, a new "hands-off clause" removes the Governments powers to oversee local consortia and guarantee the level of service wherever we live. We can expect increases in postcode lotteries - and less ways to hold the Government to account if the service deteriorates.
• The NHS will almost certainly be subject to UK and EU competition law and the reach of procurement rules will extend across all NHS commissioners. Private health companies will be able to take new NHS commissioning groups to court, if they do not win contracts. scarce public money could be tied up in legal wrangles instead of hospital beds. Meanwhile, the legislation lifts the cap on NHS hospitals filling beds with private patients.

So who re the MPs going to listen to when casting their vote - you, or lobbyists from the private health companies? This is our NHS, and it is up to us to defend it. Email your MP now.

Barrister Rebbecca Haynes that the Government's plans could pave the way for private health care companies and their lawyers to benefit most from changes, not patients. Another Barrister, Stephan Cragg, found that we were right to be worried that Andrew Lansley was planning to remove his duty to provide our NHS. This is the conclusion of the top legal team paid to have other interest at heart but yours.

Please Write to Your MP on the Subject of Coach Services at Risk.

Below please find a model letter which by adding your name and contact details can be sent off to you Local MP.

Dear (Insert MP's Name)

Coach Services at Risk

I am very concerned about the potential reduction in coach services and higher coach fares as a result of the upcoming withdrawal, by the Government, of the Coach Concessionary Travel scheme.

The Coach Concessionary Travel scheme provides half price coach travel for disabled people and those over 60 within England and Wales. At the Comprehensive Spending Review the Government announced its intention to withdraw the scheme from the end of October this year. The equivalent scheme in Scotland - which provides free, not half price, coach travel for disabled people and those over 60 - will remain in place. Why is it not possible in England?

I understand that coaches in locations where services are a lifeline may be reduced because of the potential reduction in passenger numbers. Taking a coach is usually the best value and most flexible means of public transport for me to use. Any changes to local services or ticket prices will have an impact on my ability to travel. I am also concerned that this raises the spectre of the national concessionary travel pass, which runs out in August 2012, being withdrawn is that what the Government intends?

I should be very grateful if you would look into this matter for me and encourage the Department for Transport to work with the local coach industry to fully understand and reduce the impact of the scheme's removal or at least delay the scheme's withdrawal until the full impact on people like me is understood.

Yours Sincerely

Important information regarding concessionary fares from national express

Important news on the concessionary fares scheme

For those of you who have used the Government's half price coach ticket, we want to give you some important information. The scheme currently provides up to half price travel for the over 60 year olds and disabled people through Government funding. The Government has announced that this funding will end on October 31st 2011 as part of its spending cuts programme.

While we are look ing to introduce a replacement scheme, without the Government funding it is not possible to make discounts as high and the cost of travel will increase for all of our over 60's customers. We have written to the Government to ask that they reconsider their decision on this issue. We have also written to a number of MP's to raise our concerns with them. Many MP's have told us that they agree and have written to ministers at the Department of Transport to ask them whether they have considered the potential impact on eligible passengers ability to travel.

From your letters and emails, we know that many of you rely on the half price fares. Some people have expressed the concern that without it, they may not be able to travel. If you share these concerns, perhaps you could write to, or email, your local MP to encourage them to raise your concern with the Department of Transport.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Cleaves

Managing Director - National Express, Coach 

View of the Midlands TUC Pensioners Network

Its very important that all retired members who read this letter should write a letter to their MP's and make them aware that in this alleged big society of ours, that it is the people at the bottom of the pile (this includes many pensioners) who are most badly affected by these Government cuts. We expect them to take this case up vigoursly, and stress that many of the poorer pensionesr will be unable to travel and have a short brak or visit relatibves, it will also cost drivers jobs, please get writing those letters and do not be shy at making your views known, there is no time to be lost.

PS. It would be very useful if people who write or have already written to their MP on this subject, would be kind enough to communicate with this blog and let us know if they get a response from their MP.