Chris Inchley backs Labour MP’s bid to scrap competition in the NHS
Chris Inchley writes:
The NHS is one of our greatest achievements and our most important institution. But it’s under
threat from a Tory-led government which puts privatisation before patient care.
Now more than ever we need action to save our NHS. That’s why I’m backing Labour MP Clive
Efford’s Bill which would scrap David Cameron’s new market framework for the NHS and ensure
NHS patients will always be put first.
The NHS has never been more vulnerable than under the present government. The Tories wasted
£3 billion on an unnecessary and damaging top-down NHS reorganisation. The new rules allow
hospitals to earn up to 49 per cent of their income from private patients, which risks pushing NHS
patients to the back of the queue. And their new competition rules force doctors to open up
services to competition from the private sector.
Labour will ensure that the NHS once again puts patients before profits. We will invest the millions
of pounds saved from scrapping competition red tape in ensuring people can get a GP
appointment within 48 hours, or on the same day if they need it.
I have no hesitation in backing this bill as it will make sure patients in Wells Constituency are put
first once again. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for our current MP. That’s why I’m asking
Tessa Munt to back the Bill and vote for it in Parliament on 21st November.
Patients in the Wells Constituency are relying on her to do the right thing by backing this Bill so that
we can put an end to market forces being put at the heart of the NHS. Tessa Munt MP is fond of
saying how she always puts her constituents first; its time she backed this up with action by voting
for this Bill on 21st November.
The Tories haven’t just destabilised our health service; they’re holding it back from meeting the
challenges of the 21st century as well. We need to pass this new Bill so we can end the creep
towards NHS privatisation, bureaucracy and red-tape, and instead put patients back at the heart of
the NHS . Labour will rescue the NHS with our £2.5 billion Time to Care package which will fund
new staff including 20,000 more nurses – investment the Tories will not match.