This is part of a big drive to first 'privatize' services and then make it an 'insurance for services.' 

Privatization has worked out so well - think Southern Cross.  But this political move makes the corporations happy, the politicians richer and the regular people moving up the river slowly...

The endgame is that the then-privatized delivery of services becomes 'for-profit insurance for services.'  That's when the politicians take away the paddle.

Don't let them do it, Britain.  Look at the US, because that's where you're heading.

They won't get a chance, The GP's , The Hospital consultants are against it, The nursing unions are against it, hell not even the Hospital managers are for this.
So much for : "The NHS is safe with us." mind you he didn't know about Andy Coulsons' past history as well.(if you believe that). A recent straw pole asked "What would cause you to take to the streets like the people in the middle east?" The result was surprising, "Any attempt to dismantle the NHS." So go ahead Dave, that's if you're STILL in charge by the start of October.

Gee, Britain will just be a real look-alike of America soon. Privatization never works and it never is cheap. Contractors have far different rules with the Government than they do the people with the Government. Look for drug costs, procedure cost, treatments of any kind to sky rocket out of sight as the private insurers get ready to skin the people England. Good luck and cheerio'!

This is just a scam to pad the pockets of people connected to the Conservatives, not improve the efficiency of anything.

Privatization of Government contracts leads to Fraud and Abuse and some rich CEOS. It has NEVER been shown to reduce costs. If it did, there would be no profits, their job is to reduce benefits and skim off as much as they can, no more, no less.

PLEASE, England. Don't blow THIS one. You have the best healthcare model in the world. Keep profit-seekers OUT of hospitals.

Don't be like US, in your former colonies, (we never should have rebelled, by the way. Sorry bout that) where even those that are "covered" by private health care companies, get DROPPED as soon as they put in a claim. 1 out of 5 Californians reported being "Excised", aka, dropped from their contracts after putting in a claim. 20%. The corporate stooges who work for them and do the actual identifying of patients and do the actual cutting off of services actually get REWARDED for having done so. The more patients that you cut, the higher the reward.

Life here in America is a living nightmare.

The number one cause of bankruptcy in America is Medical bills.

If you guys need an American history teacher, who can also teach world history pretty darn good (I learned from the best: Simon Schama) give me a call. I'll be over there just as fast as i can swim there.