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Private Sector (NHS)

I am pleased to have secured this debate. The use of the private sector in the health service is a topic of great interest not only in the House but in the country. I shall start by making it clear that I am not against private sector involvement in the NHS per se. By calling this debate I shall no doubt be labelled as troublesome, lefty and against any reform. I am not against reform. I am open to suggestions that work for my constituents or those of other hon. Members. If the private or independent sector is able to provide services that complement those provided by the NHS, at a competitive price, without affecting the standard of care or undermining the NHS's general principles, its involvement should be welcomed. It should be welcomed as long as we remain true to the principles of the NHS. In other words, the service should meet everyone's needs, be free at the point of need and be based on patients' clinical need rather than on their ability to pay. I am almost sure that the Minister will refer to the fact that the private sector has been involved in the health service from its inception. I agree with that. The County Durham and Darlington acute hospitals NHS trust is a good example of use of the private sector. At Bishop Auckland hospital and at Darlington memorial hospital, a private company called Lodestone has provided screening services for the past five years. At Bishop Auckland hospital, the waiting time for non-urgent scans is three weeks and at Darlington it is about four weeks. However, where the private sector operates in the NHS, we must ensure that three main criteria are met: the founding principles of the NHS must be adhered to; the public must receive value for money; and NHS services must be complemented, not undermined. Unfortunately, the case to which I shall refer affects my constituency, where I wonder whether any of the three criteria are being met