I am pleased to add my signature to the letter below to Health Minister Edward Argar MP about the government’s Health and Care Bill.

Particularly worrying are the bill’s provisions to revoke the NHS national tariff and replace it a new NHS payment scheme. The original national tariff meant that all providers of NHS-funded services were paid the same, meaning they competed on quality. This new payment scheme will mean local providers can set their own pricing for services, impacting both the quality of care provided and the terms and conditions of staff providing this care.

As the letter states, unless the legislation is amended there is also scope for the side-lining of unions representing staff in health and care sectors.

You can read the letter below: