COMMERCIALISATION OF HEALTHCARE PROVISION

Early day motion 889, tabled 22 February 2010 by Diane Abbott (Labour). Signed by 41 members.

That this House believes that for the NHS to provide high-quality, comprehensive healthcare for all, free at the point of use, it must be publicly-funded through central taxation, publicly provided and publicly accountable; is concerned about the damaging effects that commercialisation of the NHS is having through market reforms including the use of independent sector treatment centres, imposed GP-led health centres and polyclinics, the transforming community services initiative and expensive private finance initiative projects; further believes that public money should be used for quality healthcare and not profits for shareholders; further believes that the NHS should care for patients through co-operation and not competition; supports the British Medical Association's call to abandon the market in the NHS in England; and urges Government to restore the NHS as a public service working co-operatively for patients, not a market of commercial businesses competing with each other for financial gain.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Independent 4, Liberal Democrat 4, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, DUP 1, Independent Labour 1, Respect 1.