BE in no doubt that the Health and Social Care Act 2012, prepared by former Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, was a massive blunder.

Even senior Conservative ministers now admit to ruinous repercussions.

Privatisation is denied, but the fact is that an increasing number of NHS contracts are being awarded to private companies and it could be that the negotiations of the EU-US trade agreement will allow such companies to mount legal challenges in order to acquire ownership.

What’s more, the formulation of this Act was a straightforward piece of duplicity after the Tory Party had specifically promised the electorate that there would be no major reorganisation of the NHS after the 2010 General Election.

Mr Cameron, George Osborne and Oliver Letwin cannot plead ignorance aboutMr Lansley’s intentions as Mr Letwin is known to have helped with the green paper. The public, of course, know that some cost restraints must apply to the NHS but such options should be the mandate of Parliament and the choice of the people.

The public were not consulted about the 2012 Act they were, in fact, deceived.

It is not too late to reform the 2012 Act but if the Tories form the next majority Government our NHS will increasingly go down the US healthcare route. The NHS belongs to us all and we should not let it go without a fight.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland