Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Foundation Hospitals and George Galloway.
Foundation Hospitals
Questioned as to whether the Prime Minister had been working the phones and having meetings with backbenchers this afternoon in advance of the vote on the Bill later today, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) confirmed that the Prime Minister had met a number of MPs, as you would expect on a day like today. The Health Secretary had set out the arguments very clearly and was supported strongly by the Prime Minister. It was important for people to recognise the driving force behind the debate. This was about the needs of doctors and nurses on the frontline. The need to move control to them should be seen as a clinical, rather than managerial, benefit. Moreover, as the Health Select Committee report on foundation hospitals had acknowledged, the policy would not result in a two-tier health system, privatisation or an internal market. Asked if the Prime Minister had met MPs individually or in groups, the PMOS said that, as far as he was aware, the Prime Minister had met them on a one-to-one basis.
Asked if the Prime Minister accepted that the Bill was no longer ‘in an ideal state’ because he had had to make compromises and concessions, the PMOS said that it was important to distinguish between broad principles and the detail. The former clearly remained at the heart of the Bill. On the latter, we had said that we would listen carefully to sensible suggestions. The Government had proven to be responsive to the genuine concerns which had been expressed, for example by establishing structures to help the poorer performing hospitals to achieve higher standards. Ultimately, however, it was important for people to recognise that, because of the history of under-investment in the NHS, inequalities in the system already existed, and we were therefore not starting off on a level playing field. That was precisely why the Government’s commitment to investment and reform was about levelling up standards, rather than levelling them down.
George Galloway
Asked the Prime Minister’s view of George Galloway, the PMOS said it was no secret that the Prime Minister did not see eye-to-eye with Mr Galloway on many issues.
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