This week’s final stages of the Care Bill in the House of Commons is likely to see a cross-party revolt over plans to give the Health Secretary and officials he directly appoint (the ‘Trust Special Administrator’) power to direct changes to, or close, hospital services within a locality where a trust is failing financially.
The clause was inserted into the bill last year after the Court of Appeal instructed Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt that he had acted beyond his authority in attempting to cut emergency and maternity services at Lewisham Hospital. The amendment has been tabled by former Health Minister and Lib Dem MP Paul Burstow, and has support across the House, most notably from the Labour frontbench health team.
