MP condemns political posturing
Yesterday afternoon in the House of Commons, John Baron MP asked a question during a session called by the Shadow Health Secretary, the Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, about the proposed reforms to the NHS. Much of the debate centred on the planned changes to enable GPs to commission services.
John said,
“Does the Secretary of State for Health accept that the debate so far risks ignoring the importance of the Bill’s renewed focus on outcomes? In cancer, for example, such a focus will be instrumental in driving forward earlier diagnosis and so save, quite literally, thousands of lives.”
The Secretary of State for Health, the Rt Hon Andrew Lansley CBE MP, replied that the new focus on outcomes should have just that effect.
Afterwards, John said,
“The figures show that although the NHS is as good at treating cancer as any health service in Europe, it compares poorly at diagnosing it in the first place. Earlier diagnosis could save an extra 5,000 lives a year – and this would only bring us up to the European average.”
“There is much political posturing about the changes to the NHS commissioning structures. But the elephant in the room is the new focus on patient outcomes – this single reform could transform the NHS.”
Ends
Word Count: 230
Date: 29th February 2012
Notes to Editors:
John is Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer
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