NHS Reform Bill Passes to the next stage

Attempts to postpone and alter the NHS reforms have been defeated in the House of Lords to the Government's relief and campaigners disappointment.

The House of Lords was asked to decide if the Health and Social Care Bill should be sent back and considered by a committee.

But the bid, led by former SDP leader Lord Owen, was defeated in Parliament with a comfortable majority of 68.

Peers also voted to allow the policy to continue to the next stage, meaning it is one step closer to becoming law.

sky.com

Right now, the government is pushing through changes to our national health service which could spell the end of the NHS as we know it. Meanwhile, a funding squeeze means wards are closing and doctors and nurses are being laid off.

The last chance to save the NHS as the house of lords vote on its controversial health reforms on Wednesday 12th October 2011, in which delaying the bill could kill it off. 

If you care about the NHS PLEASE sign the 38 Degrees petition - one vote could send it at least into committee in the hope the proposed changes from these silly Tories obsessed with profit from health care for their buddies and reducing the size of the state for purely ideological reasons can be toned down             Sign the partition now................

If all crossbenchers opted to support the Owen-Hennessy amendment, along with all Labour peers, the government could be defeated and forced to endure the bill being funnelled through the Owen-Hennessy special committee.

Under the amendment, the special committee would report back by 19 December, increasing the prospect that the legislation would not be completed by April.

In recent votes crossbenchers have shown little hesitation in voting against the government, even though the upper House is mindful that it should not get into the habit of denying the will of the directly elected lower House.

guardian.co.uk