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Public Services for All > Published by Alex Hern, February 14th 2012 at 5:23 pm

The government continues to bury the risk of the NHS reforms

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The saga surrounding the release of the assessment of the risk caused to the NHS by the government’s top-down reorganisation – the so-called NHS risk register – looks like it may be heading to conclusion, with a hearing scheduled for early March over whether the government has the right to refuse to make the document public.

Their will to fight is likely to be sapped by the discovery by the Daily Mirror of the likely conclusions.

The Mirror reported:

Documents obtained by the Mirror show NHS bosses have warned the shake-up will endanger patients, lead to staff cuts and do lasting damage to the reputation of the service…

The risk registers reveal the deep anxiety across the NHS at the potentially disastrous consequences of the Government’s reforms.

They warn many GPs are not ready to take over their new commissioning roles and that the shake-up has led to low staff morale, the loss of key NHS workers and widespread instability within the health service. As well as warning of deaths, the South Central authority fears the reforms could also lead to abuse of patients, such as that at Winterbourne View care home.

These dangers are similar to those uncovered by Left Foot Forward when we revealed the contents of the London risk register:

Talking about “planning for and implementing the Government’s White Paper reforms”, it euphemistically concludes that:

The consequences of this risk could be patients receiving sub-optimal care.

The consequences of abolishing primary care trusts:

…could be that the quality of the commissioning of health care may be poor, both in securing the best health outcomes for London’s population and in maximising value for money.

Finally, and most shockingly, the document covers the risk to children that loss of expertise could lead to, and concludes:

The consequences of this may be preventable harm to children,  damage to the reputation and loss of public confidence in NHS London and the NHS in London.

The fight over the release of the document has been going on for almost eighteen months now. It started in November 2010, when John Healey MP requested a copy. In December that year, he was rejected, and his appeal took until July 2011 to conclude.

In November last year, he made a second request to the Department of Health, under the Freedom of Information act. The government again stalled, and, after the information commissioner ruled in Healey’s favour, took the appeal to a tribunal.

The government is clearly – transparently – attempting to stall release of the information until after the health bill goes through the Lords and Commons. If their opposition is forced to rely on leaks and minor excepts, which is the best we have, then they will find it harder to put together the strong argument against the reorganisation that this bill is prompting.

There are other avenues of attack over the bill, however. One which is looking increasingly successful is the government’s own e-petition website. The petition calling for the bill to be dropped has just broken 95,000 signatures, bringing it perilously close to success. Sign it, and help save the NHS.

See also:

• NHS productivity gain is just the latest evidence that socialised medicine brings down costs – Daniel Elton, February 13th 2012

• Look Left – Beginning of the end on the NHS bill – Alex Hern, February 10th 2012

• The Financial Times comes out against the NHS bill – Alex Hern, February 9th 2012

• Miliband goes on attack as fight to save the NHS stepped up – Shamik Das, February 6th 2012

• NHS assessment of Lansley’s plan’s risk makes for sober reading – Alex Hern, November 24th 2011

  • http://twitter.com/loquaciousminx/status/169526923096109056 L Minx

    RT @alexsmith1982 Risk regstr likely to say NHS bill will "endanger patients, lead to staff cuts and do lasting damage" http://t.co/4IGiCU5E

  • http://twitter.com/neilrfoster/status/169528667800731651 neilrfoster

    Risk register likely to say #NHS bill will "endanger patients, lead to staff cuts and do lasting damage": http://t.co/CC3UXa6w #DropTheBill

  • http://twitter.com/smather4/status/169529615046541312 Stephanie Mather

    The #dropthebill petition against NHS reforms is gaining 150 signatures a minute: http://t.co/mEM8k3zF (via @leftfootfwd)

  • http://twitter.com/mahatmaspen/status/169537307647545344 Jaikiranmaram

    Risk register likely to say #NHS bill will "endanger patients, lead to staff cuts and do lasting damage": http://t.co/CC3UXa6w #DropTheBill

  • http://twitter.com/marc_bush/status/169539044974399488 Dr Marc Bush

    As govt buries how bill risks NHS, a #dropthebill petition gains 150 signatures a minute: http://t.co/WYltnTBM Join them. #savetheNHS

  • Mr. Sensible

    I’m hearing tonight that the petition has reached 100000 signatures. What has the government got to hide on that assessment?

  • http://twitter.com/keirascarlett/status/169546895407063040 Keira Evans-Determan

    The government continues to bury the risk of the NHS reforms (Left Foot Forward): Alex Hern looks at the ongoing… http://t.co/JAk19x8C

  • http://twitter.com/johndwm/status/169569035867004929 John D W MacDonald

    The government continues to bury the risk of the NHS reforms | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/QruBaF0f

  • http://twitter.com/nick_theobald/status/169571062294642689 Nick Theobald

    Risk register likely to say #NHS bill will "endanger patients, lead to staff cuts and do lasting damage": http://t.co/CC3UXa6w #DropTheBill

  • http://twitter.com/scoscarwood/status/169589771973304320 Celia Kelly

    The #dropthebill petition against NHS reforms is gaining 150 signatures a minute: http://t.co/mEM8k3zF (via @leftfootfwd)

  • http://twitter.com/thatfrankward/status/169683182445268992 Frank Ward

    Risk register likely to say #NHS bill will "endanger patients, lead to staff cuts and do lasting damage": http://t.co/CC3UXa6w #DropTheBill

  • http://twitter.com/dwasmkuk/status/169720666197721088 David Short

    RT @leftfootfwd: 100k sigs, ConHome & so many medical prof bodies opposed it hurts AND a -ve risk asssmnt: http://t.co/fxVr8mr4 #savetheNHS

  • http://twitter.com/antennared/status/169720976802709504 AntennaRed

    100k signatures, ConHome and so many medical prof bodies opposed it hurts, AND a negative risk assessment: http://t.co/WYltnTBM #savetheNHS

  • http://twitter.com/gemmatumelty/status/169721930251898880 Gemma Tumelty

    100k signatures, ConHome and so many medical prof bodies opposed it hurts, AND a negative risk assessment: http://t.co/WYltnTBM #savetheNHS

  • http://twitter.com/petebrookes/status/169722107905843200 pete brookes

    “@leftfootfwd: 100k sign, ConHome & medical prof bodies opposed it, & a negative risk assessment: http://t.co/QVcomkta #SaveOurNHS "
    #fb

  • http://twitter.com/mikey_franklin/status/169722276147757056 Mikey Franklin

    100k signatures, ConHome and so many medical prof bodies opposed it hurts, AND a negative risk assessment: http://t.co/WYltnTBM #savetheNHS

  • http://twitter.com/c3iq/status/169724076674396160 Owen Williams

    100k signatures, ConHome and so many medical prof bodies opposed it hurts, AND a negative risk assessment: http://t.co/WYltnTBM #savetheNHS

  • http://twitter.com/dan1763/status/169724937517543424 Dan Smith

    100k signatures, ConHome and so many medical prof bodies opposed it hurts, AND a negative risk assessment: http://t.co/WYltnTBM #savetheNHS

  • http://twitter.com/condemus/status/169725069168349184 Teflon Dave

    100k signatures, ConHome and so many medical prof bodies opposed it hurts, AND a negative risk assessment: http://t.co/WYltnTBM #savetheNHS

  • http://twitter.com/durhamcub/status/169725184000000000 Martin Steel

    100k signatures, ConHome and so many medical prof bodies opposed it hurts, AND a negative risk assessment: http://t.co/WYltnTBM #savetheNHS

  • http://twitter.com/threadbarepanda/status/169726363908046848 Panda

    100k signatures, ConHome and so many medical prof bodies opposed it hurts, AND a negative risk assessment: http://t.co/WYltnTBM #savetheNHS

  • http://twitter.com/sueg501/status/169746035932020737 sue gordon

    100k signatures, ConHome and so many medical prof bodies opposed it hurts, AND a negative risk assessment: http://t.co/WYltnTBM #savetheNHS

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/02/how-the-coalition-is-breaking-the-nhs/ How the coalition is breaking the NHS | Left Foot Forward

    [...] also: • The government continues to bury the risk of the NHS reforms – Alex Hern, February 14th [...]

  • http://twitter.com/rich4stgeorges/status/169782445489668096 Richard Overton

    The #dropthebill petition against NHS reforms is gaining 150 signatures a minute: http://t.co/mEM8k3zF (via @leftfootfwd)

  • http://twitter.com/cllrkrichards/status/169825390754402304 Kevin Richards

    Lala you have definitely got this one wrong @leftfootfwd: The government continues to bury the risk of the NHS reforms http://t.co/ey1Uvehe

  • http://twitter.com/glasgaygirl/status/169856598162948096 Lynn Sheridan

    100k signatures, ConHome and so many medical prof bodies opposed it hurts, AND a negative risk assessment: http://t.co/WYltnTBM #savetheNHS

  • http://twitter.com/oilywaters/status/169884908054003713 H. O.

    RT @leftfootfwd: The government continues to bury the risk of the NHS reforms http://t.co/k3cqx8Xr

  • http://twitter.com/whistleblowco/status/170118225491800064 Terry Bryan

    RT @leftfootfwd: The government continues to bury the risk of the NHS reforms http://t.co/rM5koxsD

  • http://twitter.com/bumblybeebuzz/status/170119693854703617 Love the Bees

    RT @leftfootfwd: The government continues to bury the risk of the NHS reforms http://t.co/rM5koxsD

  • http://twitter.com/drchristinehill/status/170286212446289920 Christine Hill

    And here's a report on how the government continues 2 bury the risk of the NHS reforms: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #BBCqt #SaveTheNHS #DropTheBill

  • http://twitter.com/labourlordsuk/status/170286648234479616 LabourLordsUK

    And here's a report on how the government continues 2 bury the risk of the NHS reforms: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #BBCqt #SaveTheNHS #DropTheBill

  • http://twitter.com/mike_j_lord/status/170286883346198528 Michael James Lord

    And here's a report on how the government continues 2 bury the risk of the NHS reforms: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #BBCqt #SaveTheNHS #DropTheBill

  • http://twitter.com/ligomersall/status/170287359890432000 liane gomersall

    And here's a report on how the government continues 2 bury the risk of the NHS reforms: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #BBCqt #SaveTheNHS #DropTheBill

  • http://twitter.com/mikesmart13/status/170287377057714176 Mike Smart

    And here's a report on how the government continues 2 bury the risk of the NHS reforms: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #BBCqt #SaveTheNHS #DropTheBill

  • http://twitter.com/alan_199/status/170289662626234368 Alan199

    And here's a report on how the government continues 2 bury the risk of the NHS reforms: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #BBCqt #SaveTheNHS #DropTheBill

  • http://twitter.com/5newsukgreatfan/status/170290753124302848 Lydia N Livingston

    And here's a report on how the government continues 2 bury the risk of the NHS reforms: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #BBCqt #SaveTheNHS #DropTheBill

  • http://twitter.com/laylapup/status/170291016740515840 Cherry McCormack

    And here's a report on how the government continues 2 bury the risk of the NHS reforms: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #BBCqt #SaveTheNHS #DropTheBill

  • http://twitter.com/fergusonkeith/status/170302785831702528 keith ferguson

    And here's a report on how the government continues 2 bury the risk of the NHS reforms: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #BBCqt #SaveTheNHS #DropTheBill

  • http://twitter.com/kcoch/status/170358196337258496 KEVIN COCHRANE

    And here's a report on how the government continues 2 bury the risk of the NHS reforms: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #BBCqt #SaveTheNHS #DropTheBill

  • http://twitter.com/deardaveandnick/status/170451953195814912 Bern O’Donoghue

    RT @leftfootfwd: The government continues to bury the risk of the #NHS reforms http://t.co/1kgWeJ1M Write to your MP & ask for #transparency

  • http://twitter.com/dianehain/status/171643889256636416 Diane Hain

    100k signatures, ConHome and so many medical prof bodies opposed it hurts, AND a negative risk assessment: http://t.co/WYltnTBM #savetheNHS

  • http://twitter.com/eadgifu/status/178076016990892032 Izzy Green

    As Info Comm. says Govmt must release the NHS risk register, here's why it's so important: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #savethenhs

  • http://twitter.com/durhamcub/status/178076319077236736 Martin Steel

    As Info Comm. says Govmt must release the NHS risk register, here's why it's so important: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #savethenhs

  • http://twitter.com/omarchabbi/status/178076361041256448 OMAR CHABBI

    As Info Comm. says Govmt must release the NHS risk register, here's why it's so important: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #savethenhs

  • http://twitter.com/houseoftwits/status/178079016740327427 House Of Twits

    RT @leftfootfwd As Info Comm. says Govmt must release the NHS risk register, here's why it's so important: http://t.co/67RJnljT #savethenhs

  • http://twitter.com/nickbloke/status/178084347470032896 Nick H.

    As Info Comm. says Govmt must release the NHS risk register, here's why it's so important: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #savethenhs

  • http://twitter.com/jintyg51/status/178088622040424448 Janet Graham

    As Info Comm. says Govmt must release the NHS risk register, here's why it's so important: http://t.co/BVLjuKKd #savethenhs

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/03/information-tribunal-nhs-risk-register-appeal-decision/ Information Tribunal orders Lansley: Publish NHS Risk Register “immediately” | Left Foot Forward

    [...] Reports suggest the Risk Register will warn that the NHS shake-up will “endanger patients, lead to staff cuts and do lasting damage to the reputation of the service”, while the NHS London risk assessment (pdf) of the top-down reorganisation of the NHS warned of the damaging effects of the reforms on the health service in London. [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/03/look-left-09-03-12/ Look Left – Spotlight shone on legal aid cuts as Clarke urged to think again | Left Foot Forward

    [...] Reports suggest the Risk Register will warn that the NHS shake-up will “endanger patients, lead to staff cuts and do lasting damage to the reputation of the service”, while the NHS London risk assessment (pdf) of the top-down reorganisation of the NHS warned of the damaging effects of the reforms on the health service in London. [...]

  • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/05/nhs-risk-register-publication-vetoed/ Cameron’s vetoing of NHS Risk Register release “a desperate act which will backfire badly” | Left Foot Forward

    [...] The government continues to bury the risk of the NHS reforms 14 Feb [...]