FOUNDATION HOSPITALS

Early day motion 1946, tabled 18 November 2003 by Gordon Prentice (Labour). Signed by 17 members.

That this House notes that the proposed foundation trusts did not appear in the Labour 2001 manifesto and were never approved by the Party's National Policy Forum; further notes that the policy was, moreover, rejected by the Labour Conference last month; believes that, in the absence of a green paper, the policy has now benefited from the considered views of those using and working in the NHS; recognises that the British Medical Association, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the NHS Consultants Association, the Society of Radiographers and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists have rejected the policy and that not one of the patients' associations has come out in favour; believes that the views of the TUC and affiliated unions such as UNISON, the T&G and GMB who are all opposed to foundation trusts should be given weight as should those of the Socialist Health Association and the Democratic Health Network and the Local Government Association; and further believes that, in the light of this, the Government should not force on to the NHS an expensive, disruptive and time-consuming reorganisation that so few people want.

Signatures by party: Labour 15, Labour/Co-operative 1, Scottish National Party 1.