Lib Dem Peers protecting the NHS

This is a letter in The Guardian (25 Oct 2011)

The time for declaratory statements is past. Patients who care passionately about the NHS, and staff who want to give the best possible service, need certainty about the future of the health service (The battle is far from over, 25 October). Any politician who plays party political games with the NHS would be open to justified public criticism. So it is now imperative that members of the House of Lords get on with their job of subjecting this bill to detailed, rigorous scrutiny.

In order to safeguard the NHS, free at the point of need and accessible to all, Liberal Democrat peers are putting forward amendments which require the secretary of state to remain responsible for health services being provided across England. In coming weeks we will seek to ensure that the NHS continues to develop cutting-edge research and that any income from private patients is used solely for the benefit of NHS patients. We will carry on scrutinising this bill so that the NHS can continue to deliver world-class care for patients.

Shirley Williams Jonathan Marks QC Paddy Ashdown Liz Barker Phil Willis Floella Benjamin Judith Jolly John Shipley John Alderdice Navnit Dholakia Monroe Palmer Paul Strasburger Diana Maddock Chris Rennard John Sharkey Jenny Randerson Ros Scott Tim Clement-Jones Dick Newby Mike German David Steel Kishwer Falkner Bill Bradshaw Roger Roberts Brian Cotter Bill Rodgers Anthony Lester Sal Brinton Paul Tyler Mike Storey Joan Walmsley Trevor Smith