NHS REFORMS could have a detrimental effect on Harrow residents, local figures have warned.
The Health and Social Care Bill, drawn up primarily by Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley, aims to cut £20 billion from the NHS bill by 2015 in a bid to cut the national deficit.
The bill, which represents one of the coalition Government’s most contentious changes since they took power, was not discussed in the run up to the 2010 General Election. It was also not mentioned in the coalition agreement between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats that followed.
Lansley, along with Prime Minister David Cameron, has been quick to state that the reforms will not affect frontline services such as primary care or patient services.
However, Labour MP for Harrow West, Gareth Thomas, believes local residents are not happy with the effect the reforms have had on the area so far.
"There’s a fair amount of scepticism. People have seen what’s happened to the polyclinic and the accident and emergency department. Both those measures only happened after the announcement of the NHS bill. There’s a considerable degree of worry about what’s happening", he said.
His comments come after Alexandra Avenue Polyclinic in Rayners Lane was made a weekend only service in September 2011, just two years after it was opened. It was also announced in November of last year that Central Middlesex hospital would close its accident and emergency department in the evenings.
Organisations including the Royal College of Nursing, the British Medical Association and the Royal College of General Practitioners have stated they oppose the Government's plans to reform the health service.
The reforms, which, if successful, are to be introduced in 2013, will see Primary Care Trusts abolished and replaced with clinical commissioning groups, responsible for the distribution of £60-80 billion of NHS budget. The commissioning groups will be run partly by GPs - with the Government claiming GPs will have more power over the dispensation of funds as a result.
The Prime Minister has claimed that some 140 GP groups have come forward and welcomed the establishment of the commissioning groups.
However, a local GP who asked to remain anonymous, is not convinced that local patients and doctors will benefit if the clinical commissioning groups are established. He cited risks in giving GPs more power over the supervision of how the health service is run, due to many "lacking the business acumen needed".
The GP went on to declare that patients could suffer from practitioners being part of the commissioning groups.
"Time that could be spent with patients will now be spent establishing shortfalls in treatments of disorders. GPs won't work longer hours so face-to-face contact with patients will shorten", he said.
Conservative Councillor and former nurse Lurline Champagnie believes change is crucial if the NHS is to develop.
Champagnie, also Chairman of the Harrow West Conservative Association said: "The health service really needs to make changes in order to become effective. Illnesses and technology develop, and we’re seeing more problems with the NHS as it hasn’t moved forward with time and can’t combat illnesses properly.”
While Prime Minister David Cameron has declared any reforms will not lead to privatisation of the health service, stating that it will remain free at the point of entry, Councillor Champagnie is of the opinion privatisation could be imminent.
"They say the NHS is still free at the point of delivery, but it cannot work like that anymore, because you will not have the money to keep up with the pace of change. You will have to pay for some things, and some things will have to be privatised", she said.
Councillor Champagnie is not alone in her belief the Health and Social Care Bill may lead to privatisation.
The GP, who asked not to be named, claimed the changes "could potentially lead to a high risk of privatisation", adding "if the health service becomes more business orientated, and that's what the reforms point to, more private businesses will be attracted. The private sector will always be able to undercut the NHS."
Gareth Thomas has also expressed worry a two-tier health service could be developed.
"My big fear is that those who can pay, will be more likely to get better healthcare than those who can't. I don’t understand their motivation, because I think what they are going to do will lead to a worse health service for the majority."
Not everybody though, seems to be worried by the threat of privatisation to the health service. Ray Crocker, a Harrow resident and retired teacher said: "They have to provide us with a good quality service, and sometimes changes have to be made. So I don't get too uptight about the changes or buy in to scare tactics - it doesn't bother me as long as I get what I need."
Mr Crocker went on to add: "This country has always prided itself on having a good National Health Service. I think having good healthcare is one of the most important things in society. When you see the progress that's been made in general public health since it's existed it's something to be proud of and people must realise that it is going to cost money."
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