Private companies challenge policy that NHS organisations are “preferred providers”
BMJ 2010; 340 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c132 (Published 11 January 2010) Cite this as: BMJ 2010;340:c132- Nicholas Timmins
- 1Financial Times
The policy declared by England’s health secretary, Andy Burnham, that NHS organisations are now the “preferred provider” of NHS care is being challenged in what could prove a key test case.
In what amounts to a class action, representatives of private and voluntary sector organisations have joined forces to take a case to the Co-operation and Competition Panel for NHS-Funded Services. It is likely to prove an important test of a body that has a purely advisory role to the health secretary, with no statutory independence. The panel has confirmed that it will investigate the case.
The NHS …
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