Church leaders across Yorkshire join attack on Government NHS reforms

In an open letter to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health, they argue the Bill’s “more market-orientated approach to health care will inevitably leave behind weaker communities.”

The letter, signed by 19 church leaders including the bishops of Sheffield, Ripon and Leeds, Bradford and Hull, continues: “We wish to state that we have no confidence in market forces as they are applied to health care in the long term because of the inevitable conflict between self-interest and the care of other people, and between shareholder expectations and patient needs.

The letter stems from the Churches Regional Commission’s recent policy paper, A Northern View of the Health and Social Care Bill, which draws together research and expertise from lay Christians in the region.

It concludes: “We urge the Government to rethink its approach to reform of the NHS so that we can maintain a health service of which all British people can remain justly proud.”

The Bill moved closer to the statute book on Tuesday when a Liberal Democrat revolt was defeated by the Government.