DAVID LOWDON (HAS, Jan 5) rightly lists the achievements of Clem Atlee’s post-war Labour Government, with the jewel in the crown being the formation of the NHS.
Today the health service is in grave danger of privatisation and I fear it may happen sooner than expected.
Many readers will be aware that 80 per cent of NHS funding is to be channelled through local GPs.
The informed opinion is that most of this income may go to private companies.
However, a far greater and unannounced danger exists in that the NHS, previously exempt as a state-run service, is now subject to EU competition law.
This law will oblige the service to tender against private companies that will have the financial muscle to submit “loss leader” quotations, with the inevitable price adjustments coming after the NHS service is driven to the wall.
Darlington bus users will testify to the eventual outcome of such tactics after larger companies used such tactics during transport deregulation in the town.
I have a very real fear for the future of the NHS, particularly as our legislators are millionaires, who see no need for universal free health care.
V Connor, Bishop Auckland
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