NHS shake-up which ‘privatised’ health services was damaging, minister admits

Full story in The Independent, 23 May 2018

The NHS shake-up which led to greater “privatisation” damaged attempts to improve patient care, a government minister has conceded for the first time.

Private firms are being allowed to compete for many services, creating “fragmentation” and preventing health chiefs from integrating treatments, George Eustice said.

The admission came immediately after Jeremy Corbyn attacked Theresa May for allowing NHS services to be “siphoned off”, telling her: “It’s jackpot time for the privateers.”

The Labour leader highlighted how Virgin Healthcare had been paid £1.5m even after its bid, to provide children’s health services in Surrey, was rejected.