Amendment that could have halted NHS reforms has failed

An amendment that would have put NHS reforms on ice and potentially led to the fall of the bill has been voted down.

It was tabled by Lords Owen and Hennessey and called for parts of the bill to be sent to a special select committee for further scrutiny.

But this afternoon (12 October) it was defeated with a majority of 68 and a Labour bid for the entire bill to be thrown out was also overturned.
 
The RCM had voiced their support the amendment for further scrutiny and has now vowed to keep pushing to improve the controversial bill.

Sean O'Sullivan, the RCM’s head of policy, said: ‘We are disappointed that the amendment from Lords Owen and Hennessey wasn’t successful.

‘This was an opportunity to subject the bill to much-needed scrutiny.

‘Nevertheless, we will continue to lobby the Lords to secure substantial improvements to the bill.’

A spokesman for the Department of Health called the result ‘an important step towards giving the NHS the clarity and certainty it needs, and delivering a world-class health service for patients’.

He continued: ‘We now look forward to working with the Lords to scrutinise the bill during committee stage to improve our plans further.’

In committee stage every clause of the bill has to be agreed to by peers and votes on the amendments can take place.

All proposed amendments can be discussed and there is no time limit on the length of discussion.