Cancer services move attacked

PRIVATE companies should not profit from cancer and terminal care, Oldham MP Michael Meacher has said.

The Oldham West and Royton MP said the actions of four GP-led clinical commissioning groups in Staffordshire which are involved in the likely outsourcing of cancer services worth more than £1.2 billion was appalling.

He said: “This opening of the most sensitive and critical areas of the NHS to the private sector demonstrates that there is no limit to the willingness of this Coalition Government to replace them with those from profit-driven operators.

“The Secretary of State for Health should commit to the excellence of NHS care by denying private companies the opportunities of profiteering from cancer and terminal care.”

Research from Nuffield Health show that since the Coalition took power in 2010, private firms’ share of the NHS spend has increased from 12 per cent to 18 per cent, and is now more than £1.77 billion.

Mr Meacher added: “I hope no other areas will follow suit, this sort of outsourcing is outrageous.”