Government to introduce amendments to Health and Social Care Bill

The government has confirmed that it will be accelerating plans to amend the controversial Health and Social Care Bill as it prepares to re-enter the House of Lords.

Health minister Lord Howe has announced that a number of changes proposed by the Lords are being incorporated into the legislation, such as enshrining the health secretary's responsibility to provide a high-quality service and giving patients a greater say over how services are organised.

Other measures that will be introduced include new responsibilities for education and training for the NHS commissioning board and clinical commissioning groups, as well as better integrated services and a renewed commitment to fighting inequalities.

Health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "We have been carefully listening to the ideas raised as the bill has progressed through parliament. As a result, we have today tabled a series of amendments to address these remaining issues."

The bill remains unpopular among many members of the medical profession, with a recent Royal College of General Practitioners poll showing that 98 percent of GPs are in favour of it being scrapped.