PROCUREMENT IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR

Early day motion 1281, tabled 15 December 2005 by Mark Oaten (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 103 members.

That this House is concerned that the Government's policy on procurement in the healthcare sector will undermine patient choice, innovation and patient care, particularly with the provision of stoma care products and services, pressure area care, chemical reagents and wound care, where patients, industry and professionals are expressing alarm at the potential for increased risk to patient safety and well-being; recognises that an emphasis on financial savings could be counter-effective in passing the cost on to other areas of public sector provision; notes that the Assistive Technology sector of medical devices, in particular, is highly service-orientated and failure to recognise this in value for money calculations will result in patients being seriously disadvantaged; and calls for the current policy to be brought to an immediate halt and for more appropriate models to be reviewed urgently in conjunction with patients, industry and professionals.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 37, Labour 29, Conservative 27, DUP 7, Respect 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.