Lib Dems confident of changes to NHS Bill – Cllr Michael Mullaney

Liberal Democrats in Hinckley and Bosworth are confident that significant changes will be made to the Government's Health Bill to address concerns raised by the public, medical professionals and the party.

Liberal Democrats led the calls for changes after raising serious concerns at the party's Spring Conference in March.

The Government has completed a listening exercise during a break in the passage of the Bill to hear the concerns.

In particular, Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats want to ensure:

· The pace of change is slowed down to ensure
changes are not rushed into. The changes must be evolution, not revolution

· There is no privatisation of the NHS and no
special favours for the private sector. We want a level playing field, not a
race to the bottom

· The NHS is properly accountable, both
nationally and locally

Commenting, Cllr Michael Mullaney, Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Hinckley and Bosworth said:

"Liberal Democrats have been clear from the start that there must be no privatisation of
the NHS and that it must remain universal, based on need and free at the point of use.

"With an ageing population and rising costs it is clear the NHS can't stand still, but these changes are too important to get wrong.

"I am glad that Nick Clegg and my Lib Dem colleagues have been fighting to make sure the concerns raised by the public and medical professionals have been heard and addressed."