'Health reform bill will save NHS' - Benyon

Responding to criticism from the Newbury Labour Party that the Conservatives had broken a pre-election manifesto pledge that there would be no “top-down” reorganisation of the service, Mr Benyon said the Government had spent more money than ever before on doctors and midwives, and had cut bureaucracy since taking power.
The controversial plans to radically restructure the NHS in England include provisions to significantly expand competition between healthcare providers in England, leading to fears a US-style system could ensue in which the number of free services would be drastically reduced with a growing list of services only available to those with money, or insurance.
“It is not a top-down reorganisation it is a bottom-up reorganisation, and I believe it will work,” Mr Benyon said.
“In Newbury there is a shadow commissioning group, I have met with the chairman, they have met with the PCT, who are very happy about the situation, and we are sure it will be a success.”
Mr Benyon said he felt there had been some confusion over the bill and that some aspects, such as an overhauling of care for the elderly, had been overlooked.
“There are two parts to this bill, the second concerns social care, the number of people aged 85 is set to double in the next 20 years and that is something we have to address right now,” he said.
“We can’t keep on as we are, and if we do nothing the NHS will encounter huge problems and may not even survive. We need an NHS that is responsive to the public's needs.
Newbury Labour Party spokesman Richard Garvie branded Mr Benyon “David Cameron’s cheerleader”, and said Labour had been on the streets of the town collecting signatures to show the strength of feeling against the bill, the second reading of which was discussed in Parliament yesterday
“It's yet another controversial topic in which Mr Benyon has backed the Prime Minister and his Coalition colleagues, which has led to accusations that he is putting personal political ambitions ahead of the needs of his constituents,” he said.
“The Prime Minister then said just a few months ago that change could only happen in the NHS with the support of the medical profession, yet the majority of medical professionals were then excluded from the NHS summit on the bill last week, just because they oppose what is being proposed by the Government.”
Mr Garvie has challenged Mr Benyon to a public debate on the issue, to be held in Newbury, however Mr Benyon initially declined the invitation on the grounds he felt it was a Labour-promoted event, and said he would speak to any unhappy constituents at his office.
The former MP for Newbury, David Rendel (Lib Dem, Thatcham Central) has indicated he will take part in the debate on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, and Mr Garvie said he would return to Mr Benyon with a new invitation.