Burnham says ‘NHS First’ does not rule out use of independent sector

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham has said his controversial NHS first’ policy will not preclude the involvement of independent healthcare providers in the NHS. On the contrary, Mr Burnham insisted that making NHS organisations preferred provider’ for new services and repealing Section 75 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 would give NHS providers and commissioners the freedom to work with the independent sector. In an interview with Health Service Journal, he said: There is going to be change, but the NHS will get the first chance to change. You don’t immediately go to an open competition, [the NHS] gets the chance to embrace the model…But [if commissioners judge the] change isn’t acceptable or not embraced fully, then [we] say: We’ve given you first chance to change but it’s not worked. We now need to open up to different ways of doing things.’