Protection of Mental Illness And Other Amendments
The Health and Social Care Bill went through its first day of debate this week (Wednesday, to be precise). I still haven't read the Bill in any form, nor have I read the list of Amendments moved for in Grand Committee. However, there's already a number of odd things going on which were highlighted by the Lords. The first is that there is already a feeling that the legislation is being acted on1:
and raised with him the fear that, because of the long drawn-out legislative process, discussion of the Bill in this House could be pre-empted. I also told him that I had consulted the clerks in Parliament and it appeared that there was no written convention that guides the Government on what is or is not acceptable to take in advance of Royal Assent. Obviously they cannot implement the legislation in full. [....] I also drew attention to a speech that had been made in the other place by a Member of Parliament that had again raised the question of whether it was proper to stop the legislation when so much was already being done and so much pre-emption had occurred. Today I have written to the Constitution Committee on this question because an MP drew my attention to a letter that says that people, "are absolutely terrified of the chaos that will apply if the Bill is dropped altogether now. Restructuring is a nightmare, un-restructuring could be even worse!". On today's "World at One", the chief executive of the Foundation Trust Network warned of a no-man's land if the Bill did not go through.
Aside from these issues, there is still a large amount of resentment to the bill in general2:
However, we have to remember that the improvement is a bit like trying to paint the face of a harlot; at the end of the day, it is still the face of a harlot, no matter how improved. We are seeing real impacts on healthcare in this country as a result of the Bill, as we speak.
On a slightly more practical note, two amendments were agreed upon to be sent back to the Commons. The first is the real reason I wanted to do this post - although people might say that it should be too obvious to need writing down, you have to remember that this is law - you have to write it down for it to mean anything in statute law, and I think the Committee made a good move here3.
Amendment 1: Clause 1, page 2, line 6, after "of" insert "physical and mental"
Finally - the written equality of treatment of physical and mental illnesses. There were points made that it's already implied (as in logical implication, not social) in other sections, but the amendment passed - just. But, the pressure is now there, and I'm sure a lot of people will welcome the move
The other amendment that passed was amendment 54, which is one that was always going to pass - it has always been the way that the Secretary of State has responsibility for the things within their state department
- 1 ↑ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201212/ldhansrd/text/120208-0001.htm#12020840000068
- 2 ↑ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201212/ldhansrd/text/120208-0002.htm#12020852000035
- 3 ↑ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201212/ldhansrd/text/120208-0001.htm#12020840000841
- 4 ↑ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201212/ldhansrd/text/120208-0002.htm#12020852000152