Bill is a huge threat (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bill is a huge threat

8:53am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Readers' letters By Telegraph & Argus

Sir – Next week, Cameron’s Health Bill will go back before the House of Lords for its report stage.

Over recent months, the opposition to the Health and Social Care Bill has been building. More and more patients, members of the public and health professional have spoken out about the damage they fear the Bill will do to the NHS.

Supporters of the NHS in the House of Lords are going to put crucial amendments to try to reduce the damage that the Bill will do to our health service.

But whatever the amendments the House of Lords pursue and whatever concessions Cameron is forced to make, the fact remains that this Bill is a huge threat to our NHS.

Our NHS was founded on the principle that healthcare should be available to everybody regardless of ability to pay. The Bill undermines the founding principle and risks putting private profit before patient care. Those who can afford to pay will jump the queque, while everybody else will be forced to the back of the ever-growing waiting list.

Linda Arnold, Beech Street, Bingley