The Secretary of State for Health chants “patient choice” like a mantra. The reality is actually quite different.
A popular GP practicing in a small Derbyshire village prepared a bid to provide GP services which had the support of the local community and of the parish council, and was structured according to local PCT guidelines. The chair of the PCT is the brother of a prominent Blairite MP.
The GP’s bid was unsuccessful. Instead the contract went to United Health Group, the huge US medical conglomerate and friend of the new Labour government.
Coincidentally UHG may have had an unfair competitive advantage in securing the deal after recently being given access to important data on primary care in the area following the award of another NHS contract.
No contest, then.
In the Back, Private Eye, No. 1151, 3-16 February 2006
