How long until private cover?

The Conservative MP for Maidstone, Helen Grant believes or rather tells me that a few services which cannot be carried out economically are being contracted out by the various local CCG’s which know where best to obtain an economical and more efficient service.

The best example of this is Canterbury Alcohol treatment service in Canterbury which was contracted out to a group headed by a dairy farmer which, after being equipped by the NHS, collapsed. A second attempt was contracted to a group headed by a hairdresser which, needless to say, also collapsed with a loss of equipment. There is no longer any alcohol treatment service in Canterbury.

The government make cuts in the NHS budget – the next one is reported to be a 20% chop – then later hand back a pittance amid a fanfare of trumpets. Apparently the NHS is short of 9,500 doctors but never mention they got rid of 5,000 doctors two an a half years ago. We are short of nurses and must recruit from the EU. But 9,500 long serving, experienced, mainly British nurses were laid off also two and a half years ago.

When I complain about such matters to my MP, Helen Grant, she tells me that privatisation is not taking place and that the service will remain free at the point of delivery.

When I ask how long this will remain true I can get no reply. So Please Mrs Grant will you let us know when we will be expected to have to get a private insurance health cover? I understand there is a long standing government timetable for this to happen, and if this is the case then there must be an end date to this so far semisecret plot. D. J. Massey Coxheath