BRADFORD MP Imran Hussain has criticised Bradford's NHS Trust for continuing plans to create a private company to run some services in hospitals.

Mr Hussain said Bradford Teaching Hospitals has ignored opposition to go ahead with plans to create the new subsidiary company, which would be wholly-owned by the trust.

He said the plans are "reckless and irresponsible", but the Trust has previously said the plans "will benefit patients and staff and is the best way of ensuring the sustainability, quality and future improvement of the service."

He said: "I remain deeply concerned around Bradford NHS Trust’s plans to create a private company.

"It is clear that the plans will harm staff and patients by undermining the high standards of employment rights and conditions that NHS staff deserve, and by delivering a service that cuts corners in order to cut costs. The decision to restart the plans is the wrong one, and the Trust must scrap them as other Trusts have done.

“This decision by the Trust to fragment NHS services and the willingness of NHS Improvement to allow them to do so is also yet another example of dangerous privatisation of our NHS by the backdoor.

"Privatisation has no place in our NHS – it runs contrary to the very principles and ideals of a public health service, and I will continue to fight for both staff and patients in keeping NHS services owned and operated by the NHS.”