Rebel Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs have lost two separate votes in the House of Commons in their attempts to amend and completely withdraw the Health and Social Care Bill.
Lib Dem MP Andrew George’s amendment to overhaul the way the NHS is managed was defeated by a majority of 54 votes.
The Government also defeated a similar Labour-led motion calling for the Bill to be scrapped by 314 votes to 258.
After the victories, Health Minister Simon Burns told the BBC he was now “very confident” that the Bill would make it to Royal Assent and become law by the spring.
It now returns to the House of Lords on Monday, before being sent back to the House of Commons.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley insisted that the reforms to the NHS were the “right idea” and that Labour’s attempts to get the Bill scrapped was a “desperate ploy from a desperate party”.
Meanwhile, the Royal College of General Practitioners has confirmed its opposition to the Health Bill after reports it was willing to work with the Government on its controversial reforms.
A letter from RCGP Chair Dr Clare Gerada to David Cameron said she hoped the Government would work with the College “together to make the health service secure, stable, and safe, now and in the future”.
But in a statement on the College’s website, it said their “position is unchanged and remains consistent – we still call for the withdrawal of the Health and Social Care Bill”.
“We have repeatedly said that this Bill will have a damaging effect on patient care and will fragment the services that the NHS provides,” the statement said. “Whatever the future of the Bill, there is an urgent need to secure the stability of the NHS in England now.
“That is why we wrote to the Prime Minister calling for him to work with GPs to find a stable way forward, and stressing that we need more GPs, with longer training, spending more time with their patients to ensure this future stability.
“This does not in any way change our stance on the Bill – it remains a real high risk to the future of the NHS, and we continue to call on all legislators in Parliament to do all they can to withdraw it.”
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