LIVERPOOL’S NHS could be slowly privatised if proposals from the Government’s health White Paper go through, health experts warned last night.
The concerns come after the British Medical Association (BMA) chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum warned about an “unnecessarily ambitious programme of reform” in his New Year message.
GPs, consultants and health campaigners in the city told the Daily Post that increased private involvement could damage local services beyond repair as companies chase profit above quality of service.
But their opinions differed on other aspects of the document.
Rob Barnett, GP and secretary of Liverpool’s Local Medical Committee, is concerned about the way Government is encouraging private companies to run services.
He said: “I am very worried this is yet another step closer to privatisation.
“No safeguard is in place to prevent this.
“When working at commissioning level, the concept of ‘any willing provider’, which is mentioned time and time again in the paper, clearly opens the door for non-NHS organisations to come in and say ‘yes, we can do this differently and maybe cheaper.'
“It is up to commissioning organisations to make sure they commission the right service, not the cheapest service.
“You can then be held hostage, paying more for a worse service.”
Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/01/05/liverpool-health-experts-warn-nhs-white-paper-could-privatise-health-service-92534-27935010/#ixzz1A9I8g9wB
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