Labour has urged the government to re-examine the rules governing transfer of senior civil servants to the private sector, amid concerns about a possible increase in the number of key figures from the Department of Health going to companies benefiting from government policies.

It comes after the news that Jim Easton, the head of the department’s quality, innovation, productivity, and prevention (QIPP) efficiency programme, is to depart to become managing director of Care UK.

Easton had served as the department’s national director for improvement and efficiency since 2009, holding the post jointly with that as the NHS Commissioning Board’s director of transformation since February 2012.

Questions have been raised about the switch, given Care UK’s status as a prominent private provider of NHS services, which was enhanced last week when the company acquired the competitor …