Daily Mirror – 7 February 2018
NHS campaigners have hailed victory after a reform they claim could be a “Trojan horse for privatisation” was delayed.
Ministers finally confirmed that they will delay laws that allow them to set up American-style Accountable Care Organisations (ACOs) after public pressure and two legal battles.
Critics claim ACOs could allow more private involvement in the health service due to their complex structure, despite the government repeatedly insisting they will do nothing of the sort.
NHS chiefs bowed to activists, including from world-renowned physicist Prof Stephen Hawking,last month and announced a fresh 12-week consultation into ACOs.
But at the time Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, refused to say the laws that allow ACOs would be stopped until that consultation finishes.