Well almost...
The concessions Cameron is willing to make on the NHS Bill do not amount to a U-turn. GPs will still be responsible for commissioning across much of the country and, where the scheme is specifically opposed by local GPs, it looks likely that commissioning will be run by GP consortia from other areas of the country, further weakening any semblance of local control.
Then there are the measures to prevent private firms from cherry-picking profitable services. Whilst the principle is indeed welcome (and the fact the government has had to knowledge it, even more so), these measures, if they follow the general thrust of policy from this government, will be toothless and ineffective. Cherry-picking was after all the main point of the bill - at least until a way can be found to squeeze profit from all areas of the health service by reducing standards of care and increasing the cost to the public.
However, in spite of all of these reservations, this is an important victory. The fact that, following the U-turn on forests and the changes to the proposals to cut EMA completely, the government has been forced once again to make compromises (or at least to be seen to make compromises) shows that mass public pressure DOES work. We should take heart from this and step up the campaign to KILL THE BILL in its entirety.
The NHS is a service used, and needed, by the vast majority of the population. We can and must fight to save it.
KILL THE BILL!
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