The NHS should not be run in the same way as privatised industries such as water, gas, and telecommunications, the BMA has said. The warning came as MPs prepared to debate the sections of the Health and Social Care Bill relating to new powers to enforce competition in the NHS in England.
Under the Bill, the new economic regulator Monitor would have the same powers the Office of Fair Trading has under the 1998 Competition Act, following the model that applies to a number of privatised industries, including gas, telecommunications, electricity and water. It would also have a statutory duty to promote competition in the NHS. BMA has requested amendments to the Bill, removing this duty. It raised concerns that Monitor will focus more on enforcing competition. There is also a fear that being open to legal challenge could divert healthcare providers and commissioners from their key task of ensuring high quality care. Finally, it is thought that existing NHS services could be at risk of arbitrary closure, despite being popular with patients and delivering high quality services. In response to these concerns, a cross-party group of MPs began signing a parliamentary motion outlining worries about the Bill, particularly its emphasis on increasing and enforcing competition which is feared will undermine collaborative working.
