Lansley to put reforms on hold

Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley has delayed planned health service reforms so that consultations can be carried out.

Mr Lansley made a special announcement to the House of Commons yesterday afternoon to reveal that changes to the Health and Social Care Bill would be made in order to include the "concerns" of doctors and other health workers.

He said that he would work with people in the health service in order to make changes to the bill.

It is thought the consultation will be carried out over the course of the next three months.

"We are going to listen and actively engage with people over the coming weeks," said Mr Lansley.

He claimed that he still had the support of the majority of GPs on how to proceed with the reform bill, but said that safeguards would be put in place to guard against privatisation.

Mr Lansley told the House of Commons the consultation would "take advantage of a natural break in proceedings", as the Bill moved to the House of Lords, where it is expected to encounter massive resistance from Labour and Lib Dem peers.

He said the government would "listen and engage with the people who want the NHS to succeed" and added that the responses would be employed in order to "strengthen the reforms through amendments".

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