George calls on Health Secretary to withdraw NHS competition regulations

Health Select Committee MP Andrew George called on the Health Secretary in the Commons today to scrap rules that would force doctors to open up NHS services to private companies.

Speaking in Health Questions Mr George said: “I am afraid that the regulation that implements section 75 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 does not maintain the assurances previously given and risks creating an NHS that is driven more by private pocket than concern for patient care. Will the Secretary of State please withdraw that regulation and take it back to the drawing board?”

Mr George, who voted against the Act and has consistently demanded that NHS reforms put patient care above profit, commented:  “I was disappointed that the Secretary of State dipped out of answering the question himself. The regulations clearly open most planning of health care to forced marketisation. I voted against the Act last year because I could see where this could go. Now I’ve seen the regulations I now believe it’s even worse than I had feared then. Government Ministers must withdraw and go back to the drawing board”

 

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