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Unions involved in the TUC-led All Together for the NHS campaign are backing a Bill sponsored by Clive Efford MP that will put patients’ needs before private profits and protect health services from privatisation.

The National Health Services (Amended Duties and Powers) Bill, published today (Friday), will have its Second Reading on 21 November. It will restore responsibility to the Secretary of State for Health for providing a comprehensive health service, free at the point of delivery.

The Bill will also prevent NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts prioritising private income at the expense of NHS patients. It removes those parts of the existing legislation that enforce market competition in the NHS. It will also make sure that a forthcoming EU and USA international trade agreement, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), does not subject the NHS to competition and market obligations.

A range of unions representing health care workers, including the Royal College of Midwives, the Society of Radiographers, UNISON, Unite, GMB, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, have strongly welcomed the Bill.

Speaking on behalf of the All Together for NHS campaign TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “People do not want to see the privatisation of their health service. But the government’s top down restructuring and preference for the private sector is inevitably taking us in that direction. Since these changes came into effect, the majority of contracts awarded have gone outside of the NHS, making a mockery of the Prime Minister’s claims that there is no privatisation taking place.

“That’s why we need a bill that will promote an integrated National Health Service, free at the point of delivery, prioritising patient’s needs, and protecting precious NHS resources from wasteful competition and market bureaucracy.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- Despite Conservative claims that the NHS is not being privatised, evidence from the NHS Support Federation shows that since April 2013, when the government’s pro-market regulations came into effect, over £7bn worth of NHS services have been out to tender. The majority of contracts awarded to date have gone to non-NHS providers. In Staffordshire, local Clinical Commissioning Groups have put out the entire cancer care and end of life treatment pathway out to tender, with a number of private companies shortlisted including Virgin, United Health, PFI specialists Interserve Investment, US tech corporation CSC and Health Management Ltd.

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen   T: 020 7467 1388    M: 07778 158175   E: media@tuc.org.uk
Tim Nichols   T: 020 7467 1337   M: 07876 452902  E: tnichols@tuc.org.uk
Clare Santry   T: 020 7467 1372    M: 07717 531150   E: csantry@tuc.org.uk

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