The UK Government has exercised its right of veto to prevent the NHS reform transition risk register from ever being published.

The Cabinet’s veto – normally used on grounds of national security – overrides two legal verdicts that the Government must publish the register.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley justified the veto by saying that publication of the risk register would weaken the policy-guiding value of such documents.

Details of the register leaked online indicate that it warned of a potential major breakdown of NHS service provision, as well as an increase in health inequalities.

The veto marks the conclusion of the Government’s 19-month struggle to keep the risk register secret in the face of legal challenges from Labour MP John Healey.

The DH lost two legal battles, being ordered to publish the risk register first by the Information Commissioner and then by a first-tier tribunal. Rather than escalate the legal process, it has used its political powers to conclude the issue.

According to Andrew Lansley, this “exceptional” step was necessary to prevent future policy documents being watered down by “civil servants worrying about how they sound to the public”.

John Healey described the veto as “a desperate act” that effectively placed NHS reform on the same footing as a war, while Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham called it “a cover-up of epic proportions”.

The BMA commented that it was “disappointed” by the decision, pointing out: “There is still a huge amount of complex and very controversial secondary legislation to go through parliament in relation to the Health and Social Care Act.”

Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said the veto was “astonishing” and meant “the public are only being presented with a partial picture of the NHS reforms.”

Former Health Secretary Andy Burnham (pictured) has replaced John Healey as shadow Health Secretary as the Party gears up to contest the coalition Government’s NHS reforms.

Burnham’s appointment follows Healey’s resignation in the wake of the decision by the Labour Party Conference to abandon cabinet (and shadow cabinet) elections.

The shadow cabinet reshuffle comes at a time when health policy is seen as a key priority for Labour in opposition.

Andy Burnham, MP for Leigh, was Health Secretary for the last six months of the previous Government, and was formerly Culture Secretary. He is currently shadow Education Secretary.

The Labour Party’s failure to stop the approval of the Health and Safety Bill by the House of Commons leaves it faced with major challenges in opposing an NHS overhaul that Burnham has called “unnecessary”.

John Healey’s resignation and that of shadow Business Secretary John Denham followed the Labour Party Conference’s approval of leader Ed Miliband’s call for the abolition of Party rules regarding shadow cabinet elections.

The new rules mean that the Party leader has personal control over the selection of the shadow cabinet (or in government, the cabinet).

John Healey, MP for Wentworth and Dearne, served as a Local Government Minister and a Housing Minister in the Brown administration.

In his resignation letter to Ed Miliband, Healey stated that family commitments were the reason for his resignation as shadow Health Minister.

The Health and Social Care Bill has been compared to the Poll Tax in its public unpopularity and potential risk for the Government. However, Liberal Democrat support for the revised Bill has left the Labour Party unable to build on the widespread opposition to it among the medical professions.