Health reforms going too far

The government seems hellbent on the overhaul of the health service in England. It has been dubbed the most radical since the NHS was created in the aftermath of World War II. The effect will be felt across the whole health service - among its 1m staff, in its 200 major hospitals and throughout its 8,000 GP surgeries.

The most obvious change is that GPs will be put in control of much of the NHS budget. From 2013, they will take over planning and buying local services from primary care trusts. I wonder if the good people of England realise this will lead to the abolition of the 151 primary care trusts and 10 strategic health authorities that oversee them.

On top of that, the NHS is being opened up even further to the private sector. The government has been criticised from all corners. The House of Commons' Health Committee said the changes took the NHS by surprise and as such will undermine its ability to make savings.

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Even Norman Tebbitt, Thatcher’s hatchet man says Cameron and Clegg are going too far on this issue.

It is obvious the scale of the changes could destabilise hospitals and force some units to close.

Also, unions, including the British Medical Association, Royal College of Nursing and Unison, have warned they represent a privatisation of the health service.

Some have even likened the changes to the privatisation seen in industries such as gas, water and electricity.

My fear is that private companies will cherry-pick the easiest patients, leaving the NHS to deal with complex cases that are more expensive to treat.

This, I feel, could destabilise hospital services and ultimately lead to them closing. I suppose we (The English) could all go to Scotland, Ireland or Wales for our NHS treatment once this Government has destroyed the English NHS. Mr Bevan would turn in his grave.