Sunday 13 February 2011

Doctor Phillip Lee MP does not agree with the NHS reforms

I recently met Dr Phillip Lee Bracknell MP at one of the bars in the houses of parliament. He told me that he does not fully support the coalition on the reform of the NHS using the proposed model for GP consortiums.

His concern is the size and split of services through the consortiums. Too smaller split could be less efficient. This is quite significant as he is the only (I believe) still practicing doctor who is also an MP.


Dr Phillip Lee while agreeing that most of the reforms are good and that changes are required (although he has some more ideas on this, which I won't explain here for fear of misunderstanding them).

He will of course vote with the government on these reforms because he feels he must represent his constituents who voted for conservative policy (although this type of reform was not in the Conservative manifesto).

I hope DR Phillip Lee MP is making clear his concerns to Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, as the experience of a practicing doctor and those MP's who were doctors could be invaluable on this subject.

With the NHS being the 3rd biggest employer in the world (Only the Chinese Army and the Indian State Railways employ more people) it is hard to imagine that it doesn't have an administration that is bigger than required.

Dr Phillip Lee spoke very honestly with me which I found very refreshing. I had a very interesting conversation with him about the MP expenses system and other details of his take on the policy within the coalition and what it is like becoming an MP.

I also read that Sarah Wollaston, the newly elected MP for Totnes in Devon who was a doctor before winning her seat has raised concerns about specific elements of the NHS bill while broadly supporting its overall aims but has been knocked back see the Guardian article here.

3 comments:

  1. "He will of course vote with the government on these reforms because he feels he must represent his constituents who voted for conservative policy (although this type of reform was not in the Conservative manifesto)."

    Another spineless party yes-man.

    Shame he doesn't have the courage of his convictions and oppose the bill if he doesn't agree with it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. you didnt ask him about Indian nationals swarming in on ICT visas then?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sorry Anonymous I failed this time, althought I have already told about 12 MEP and a simular number of MP's, for what its worth.

    ReplyDelete