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Week of 16th May 2005 *QUEEN’S SPEECH* Major Developments
Health
Improvement and Protection Bill Mental
Health Bill |
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Major Developments
Queen’s Speech The Queen’s Speech, Tuesday 17th
May, included firm commitments from the Government to further reforms for public
services. The speech included four bills related to health. For further
details, please see below. Correction The
last APHG E-bulletin (16th May) stated that Paul Burstow MP is the
Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Health. This position is now held by Steve Webb, Liberal Democrat MP for
Northavon. Future dates
Thursday 19th May Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt, will
deliver a speech on NHS reform. Tuesday 24th May House of Commons debate on Queen’s Speech
– health. Monday 27th June Select Committees to be formally reappointed and
business to begin. Queen’s
Speech - Overview
Public service reform featured heavily in this years
Queen's Speech, which set out the government's new programme. Of the 44 bills
for Parliament to debate by November 2006, several were relevant to health:
The Mental Health Bill, Health Improvement and Hygiene Bill, Incapacity
Benefit Bill and the NHS Redress Bill. The Queen set out the
Government’s commitment to the founding principles of the NHS and to
further patient choice and diversity in healthcare. Debate on the Address [17 May 2005] Lords response to Queen’s Speech [17 May
2005] Health Improvement and Hygiene Bill
“My Government will continue to
reform the National Health Service in a way that maintains its founding
principles. Measures will be brought forward to introduce more choice and
diversity in healthcare provision and to continue to improve the quality of
health services and hospital hygiene. Legislation to restrict smoking in
enclosed public places and workplaces will also be introduced.” The Health Improvement and Hygiene Bill will
introduce a hygiene code for all NHS bodies, care homes and independent
healthcare providers. Responsibility for inspection and ensuring the code is
kept to will be given to the Healthcare Commission and the Commission for
Social Care Inspection. The bill will also include legislation to introduce a
smoking ban in public places in Mental Health Bill
“My Government will continue
with legislation to provide a new framework for the provision of compulsory
treatment of those with mental disorders.” The Mental Health Bill, first put forward in 2002 and
the subject of a joint House of Commons and House of Lords Committee
investigation, will provide a new framework for the provision of compulsory
treatment for people who pose a risk to themselves or to others. However
these measures have proved controversial and critics argue that the bill
makes it too easy to detain people who have committed an offence. Indeed the
joint House Committee raised their concerns in March that people with only
mild conditions could be detained. Mental Health Bill – Link to
the former Joint Committee on the Draft Mental Health Bill NHS Redress Bill
“A Bill will be brought
forward to support patients who wish to seek redress should they experience
problems with their healthcare.” The NHS Redress Bill will propose significant reform
of the NHS compensation scheme. It is intended for patients seeking redress
for problems that they have experienced with their healthcare. The bill will
look to reform the current clinical negligence system in line with proposals
made by Sir Liam Donaldson in his report,
Making Amends. The plan hopes to provide an alternative to the
extensive litigation, delays and costs associated with the current system. Incapacity Benefit Bill
“A Bill will be introduced to
establish benefits which will facilitate a return to employment, while offering
long-term support for those unable to work.” This bill would reform incapacity benefit, providing greater support
and encouragement for claimants to return to work. Under the new system, incapacity benefit will be split in two:
claimants with less severe conditions will be encouraged under new measures
to seek employment. The claimants with more severe conditions will be placed
on a new higher rate. APHG and Website
Forthcoming
Meetings
APHG
PARLIAMENTARY BIOMEDICINE SURVEY LAUNCH
Tuesday 14th June Speaker: Jane Kennedy MP, Minister
of State for Health with responsibility for genetics. Chair: Baroness Julia
Cumberlege The project has assessed the perceptions and
attitudes of parliamentarians towards biomedicine and the biomedical sector
and provides a valuable insight into how MPs and Peers understand the
science, potential health benefits and wider social and economic implications
of this emerging area of medical advancement. Jane Kennedy MP, Minister of State for quality and
patient safety with responsibility for genetics and biotechnology, will
detail the Department of Health’s support for and policies toward new
and emerging biomedical technologies and Baroness Cumberlege will chair the
meeting. THE FUTURE OF THE NHS Tuesday 28th June With Sir Nigel Crisp, Chief
Executive of the NHS. Chair: Baroness Julia Cumberlege Sir Nigel will discuss the future of the NHS in light
of his reports, the recent Chief
Executive’s Report to the NHS and Creating a Patient-led NHS, which detail progress of The NHS
Plan since 2001 and future plans. Sir
Nigel has been hugely influential in the reforms being implemented and this
meeting presents an excellent opportunity to hear about the future direction
of the NHS from its Chief Executive and key ideas that will guide health
policy over the coming term. Should you require further details on the meeting or any
other element of our programme, please do not hesitate to contact APHG on 020
7202 9415 or email lucy.cork@healthinparliament.org.uk.
Website
Links
To access our own site, containing information on
past and present meetings and access to constituency health data, click here. Useful Links
The National Health Service Website. Contains
details of local NHS services and information on how the NHS works. The Healthcare Commission’s website.
Includes information on their role, plus details of reports &
investigations that they have carried out. Information and links on health issues, including
self-help and in depth information on various topics such as breast cancer,
depression and diabetes. Source of information on Monitor-Independent Regulator of NHS
Foundation Trusts Monitor’s
website includes information on its role, the makeup of its Board and
Management Team, the Public Register of NHS Foundation Trusts and its latest
press releases. |
