Campaigners from 38 Degrees hand 200,000 signatures to Halton MP Derek Twigg

Mar 31 2011 by Oliver Clay, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

CAMPAIGNERS opposed to the Government’s NHS reforms have handed a petition to MP Derek Twigg in Widnes.

Members of 38 Degrees met Mr Twigg, shadow health minister, at Halton Direct Link on Brook Street on Friday. The group submitted more than 200,000 UK signatures opposing reforms.

Mr Twigg is one of 26 MPs on the Health and Social Care Bill scrutiny committee, assessing the proposals.

Stephen Armstrong, 38 Degrees Widnes organiser, said the Halton MP is an essential target in the Save the NHS campaign.

Mr Armstrong said the Government reforms will hit quality of service because GPs will have an incentive to buy less effective treatments.

He said the proposals are the first steps towards an American-style health system – an intention he believes is illustrated by donations from private health insurers being made to the Conservative Party’s election campaign. He said: “People who are ill shouldn’t have to worry about cost of treatment or whether a hospital can afford to treat them.

“It’s our NHS, we’ve paid for it, we continue to pay for it and no government has the right to destroy it.”

Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans has defended the Government reforms.

He said: “The first myth about the Government’s plans is that the NHS can simply carry on unreformed.

“New technologies being developed, expensive drugs and our ageing population means that the NHS needs to do more, and do it better.

“That is why the coalition Government is increasing spending in real terms year on year.

“I want to protect and improve this great national institution.

“We are abolishing NHS bureaucracy and putting patients at the heart of everything we do.”