Devolved nations & the Health and Care Bill

Responsibility for health has been devolved to the Welsh, Northern Irish & Scottish governments - so the NHS legislation in parliament will mostly impact on the NHS in England. But that doesn’t mean it won’t affect you if you live in one of these nations. Here’s how it might impact your NHS and what you can do about it. 👇


Impact on the devolved nations:

  • The Health & Care Bill concentrates power in the hands of the Westminster government, giving the Health Secretary the ability to create, pick apart and reorganise the institutions providing healthcare. This power extends to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This means even though health is devolved, this bill would give Westminster politicians the chance to interfere in the NHS across the whole of the UK.

  • The bill puts the NHS in England on a path to increased corporatisation - this will likely see a rise in privatised healthcare and reduction in care for patients. The NHS in other parts of the UK will be affected by this shift, potentially increasing pressure on their services and making it difficult for them to maintain a publicly delivered health system in the longer term.

  • The NHS in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are also desperately underfunded - this bill will suck up more resources in a restructure that is needed to deliver better care. Just as in England, it won’t do anything to deliver the increased funds and staff that the NHS across the whole country needs - meaning the wait for improved services will stretch on for patients everywhere.

What you can do:

Northern Ireland

  • Write to your MP and ask them to oppose the bill. The DUP have voted with the government on this legislation - they need to be told to put patients before corporate profits by voting it down. Sinn Fein don’t vote in Westminster, but you can ask them to write to the UK government urging them to drop the reforms and instead invest in the NHS in NI. The SDLP & Alliance voted no - write to make sure they keep voting to block the legislation.

Scotland

  • The SNP didn’t vote on the bill when it first went to the Commons in July. As it does affect Scotland, and the SNP leadership in Edinburgh have spoken out against it, we think it would be good to ask them to consider voting against it at the next vote (known as the Third Reading) - likely to be on the 23rd November. The NHS in Scotland is also facing multiple crises and renewed investment is essential to improve patient care.

Wales

  • Welsh MPs voted on the bill when it was first in parliament - so there is every reason to lobby your MP, asking that they vote it down when it is next debated in parliament.

Hope Worsdale