MP Debbie backs fight to halt ‘NHS privatisation’

A BILL aiming to repeal parts of the Government’s Health and Social Care Act and limit private business involvement in the NHS has been backed by Oldham MP Debbie Abrahams.

The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP said: “The Government has forced hospitals to open themselves to privatisation, letting private companies cherry-pick the most profitable services. NHS funds are being spent on competition lawyers and tendering exercises, instead of on patient care.

“We opposed the Coalition Government’s Health and Social Care Act 2012 because we knew it would open up the NHS to the eventual full privatisation that the Tories want.

“Since the law was passed, with the help of Lib-Dem votes, we’ve seen £3 billion wasted on a needless reorganisation and profitable services put into the private sector while at the same time the NHS is under increasing pressure.”

Mrs Abrahams has also investigated privatisation in the NHS locally in her “NHS Check Oldham” report, which found that Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust (responsible for mental health services in Oldham), Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group, and Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (which runs The Royal Oldham Hospital), had all spent several thousand pounds on bidding for contracts, or acquiring legal and financial advice on putting contracts out to tender.