The current NHS structure is covered by a variety of legislation, chiefly the Health and Social Care Act 2012 which I opposed as it gave a greater role to private provision. The Government is now prioritising another top-down reorganisation. The new legislation consolidates NHS bodies and hands greater political control to the Secretary of State.

I am concerned about of a loss of local accountability and the further permitting of the private sector to sit on local boards. The Government’s proposals also fail to reinstate the NHS as the default provider. A formula of privatisation and underfunding over more than a decade of Conservative government has left our health service facing staff shortages of over 100,000 and the worst waiting times in its history. I opposed the Bill as it fails to introduce a plan to bring down waiting lists for routine NHS treatment, or to put forward plans to increase the size of the NHS workforce and support current staff.