NHS bill eligible for new parliament debate after 100,000 sign e-petition | Society | The Guardian

NHS bill eligible for new parliament debate after 100,000 sign e-petition

Drop the bill campaign gathers 1,000 signatures an hour and gets support from Stephen Fry, Rio Ferdinand and Jamie Oliver

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• Randeep Ramesh
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 14 February 2012 20.24 GMT
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The drop the NHS bill campaign has reached the minimum number of e-petitions required to force ministers to debate it in the Commons. Photograph: Janine Wiedel Photolibrary/Alamy

The government's controversial NHS bill is now eligible for a new debate in parliament after a campaigner's e-petition gathered support on Tuesday at the rate of more than 1,000 signatures an hour.

With more than 100,000 signing up, GP Kailash Chand's appeal calling on government "to drop its health and social care bill" has been boosted by support from celebrities such as Stephen Fry, Rio Ferdinand and Jamie Oliver.

The internet round robin has also been backed by digital campaigners – known as clicktivists – at 38 degrees.

Once it crossed the 100,000 threshold, ministers have to consider the issue for debate in the Commons.

"I wanted people to get a simple message. This bill is about privatisation. Do you want to drop it?" said Chand, who described the surge in support as a "Valentine present to someone who loves the NHS".

The Institute of Healthcare Management - which represents NHS managers also published results of its survey showing 87% of members say the bill is "fundamentally flawed"

The institute joins the Royal College of GPs, the Royal College of Nurses, Chartered Society of Physiotherapists and other bodies in calling for the bill – currently before the Lords – to be scrapped.

via guardian.co.uk