I have been reading some sage advice on government's changes to the NHS from an old hand at the top of British politics.
She says the coalition agreement promised "to stop top-down reorganisations of the NHS" and made no mention of insisting on competition. She wrongly felt that the NHS was safe in David Cameron's hands.
But she is worried that things have changed. She quotes the recent report by the cross-party Commons Health Select Committee which highlighted major differences between the agreement and subsequent ministerial announcements.
The report says the coalition programme anticipated an evolution of existing institutions, but the White Paper announced significant institutional upheaval.
She fears growing waiting lists and less accountability. She says that many clinicians fear that the private sector will skim off profitable routine operations, leaving expensive, complicated treatment to the NHS.
She examines the record of privatised utilities like British Gas which hiked energy prices by 7% last year while coining £700 million in profits.
She rightly points out that the UK has paid the highest fares in Europe since rail privatisation. "Should this inspire confidence?" she asks.
She also worries that patient choice will mean little in practice for elderly or busy patients who have little basis for their choices beyond rumour or GPs' advice.
Her withering critique concludes by saying we should stick to health being a public service strengthened by partnership and co-operation rather than the American model of a market in which price determines quality.
She asks "Why we should dismember this remarkably successful public service for an untried and disruptive reorganisation amazes me."
Who is she? It's Shirley Williams who was a Labour Cabinet minister in the 70s but established the Social Democratic Party, then joined the Liberal Democrats and became its President.
I rarely agreed with her even when she was Labour but I respect her decades of experience. I have quoted her at length because she is a credible person whose fears are widely shared. She has thrown down a major challenge to ministers as well as councillors in her own party.
The NHS needs change but the current plans are not the way to do it, in my view, and I am glad to agree on this with Shirley Williams.
Newcastle Chronicle and Journal
| Promoted by Paul Foy on behalf of Dave Anderson, both of St Cuthbert's Church Hall, Shibdon Road, Blaydon, NE21 5PT |