Labour

Internal NHS documents reveal risks to patient safety of Govt's reforms - Burnham

Andy Burnham MP, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, said in response to reports in newspapers that internal NHS documents have warned that the government's health reforms run a high risk of reducing levels of safety and patient care while leading to overspending:

"What these devastating documents reveal is that, even though risks to patient safety have been identified, the NHS has not been able to mitigate them.

"The reason for this is simple: the Government gave the NHS mission impossible when it asked it to save a massive £20 billion whilst simultaneously dismantling it. They have tied not one but two hands behind its back.

"You know something is seriously amiss when NHS London has identified a risk of 'preventable harm to children' but has been unable to reduce it. That should surely be a sign that it's time to listen to the view of health professionals that it's safer to abandon the re-organisation than press on.

"David Cameron is putting political pride before patient safety. People won't forgive him if he digs in and damages the NHS. He needs to listen to the sensible members of his own Cabinet and drop the Bill."

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