Andrew Lansley accused of secrecy over NHS plan

? Risks to health system of shakeup were assessed? Rejection of FoI request disgraceful, says LabourLabour has accused Andrew Lansley of "disgraceful secrecy" for refusing to reveal what risks his officials believe the NHS shakeup poses to the health system.The Department of Health has admitted it has identified things that could go wrong as a direct result of its radical restructuring of the NHS in England. But it has rejected Labour's request for details to be released under the Freedom of Information Act, arguing that such disclosure would impede ministers.Experts have warned that the reorganisation could hit the quality of care, lead to financial problems and make local NHS organisations less accountable. Many major NHS and medical organisations identified a large number of risks, in both the changes themselves and the period before they take effect in April 2013, when they responded to the recent government consultation on the controversial plans.John Healey, the shadow health secretary, began pursuing details of what risk assessment the health department or its advisers had undertaken to identify potential hazards caused by the biggest changes to the NHS since its creation in 1948.The health minister Earl Howe, replying on the health secretary's behalf, has confirmed that the health department has undertaken such an exercise, but refused to disclose the outcome.He told Healey the department had decided to reject Healey's request under a section of the FoI Act which exempts a public authority from releasing information which might "inhibit the free and frank provision of advice or the free and frank exchanges of views for the purposes of deliberation".Howe continued: "Whilst conscious that there will be public interest in the contents of the department's risk register and assessments being made freely available, the public interest in preserving the ability of officials to engage in discussions of policy options and risks without apprehension that suggested courses of action may be held up to public or media scrutiny before they have been fully developed or evaluated has been taken into account."I have also considered the need for myself, my ministerial colleagues and our officials to have sufficient space in which to develop thinking and explore policy options. This disclosure may deter candid discussion in the future, which may lead to poorer quality advice and poorer decision-making ? "Healey said: "This is disgraceful secrecy from a government claiming to be committed to greater transparency, and a health secretary whose plans for the NHS will affect the lives of everyone in England."The NHS Confederation, which represents 95% of NHS employers, such as hospitals, recently warned Lansley that his plans involved "significant risks".HealthNHSHealth policyFreedom of informationAndrew LansleyLabourDenis Campbellguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More FeedsDollie Orme Julio Winnie Guy Vicks Javier Hugar Lonnie Rowsey