Andrew Lansley has labelled those opposed to introducing competition into the NHS "completely perverse".
His comments came in a question and answer session during an event on the NHS held by the influential think tank Reform.
Lansley told those attending: "I find some of the trade union and organisations' antipathy towards 'any qualified provider' completely perverse. Because it is by its very nature shifting the NHS from competition on price through tempering to competition on quality based on patient and commissioning choice."
Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON questioned if he was calling ordinary doctors and nurses perverse: "Is Andrew Lansley seriously suggesting that doctors, nurses, patients, health experts as well as unions are perverse because they are opposed to the Government¹s any qualified provider proposals. Their plans are not about quality but all about opening up the NHS to private healthcare companies to come in and make a profit. That money should be ploughed back into providing patient care not into shareholders pockets."
The comments came after Lansley capitulated to demands from Liberal Democrat peers in the House of Lords, and as Labour prepares to challenge the health secretary during an opposition day debate.
Lansley also announced hospitals will be subject to 700 more spot checks to ensure high standards and he vowed a crackdown on bad management.
He also outlined plans to "shine a spotlight on poor performance". He said 70% satisfaction with the NHS was not enough: "That is great but we want it to be higher… What about the remaining 30%. Can you be content if they are not satisfied."
Lansley promised: "Where there is great care, we will celebrate it. But wherever there are pockets of poor performance, we will root it out."
The spot-checks will be similar to those carried out by the Care Quality Commission last month, which found a fifth of hospitals were breaking laws on care for the elderly. (https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/10/13/care-quality-commission-r_n_1008314.html)
If hospitals, care homes, and special homes for people with learning disabilities fail to meet clinical standards, the health secretary promised they would be shut.
"I want to change the NHS but I believe it can and should offer excellent care to every patient," he said.
Managers' responsibilities will now be enshrined in the NHS constitution, the health secretary said.
And he also outlined to bail-out, or "recapitalise" certain hospitals which are at risk of financial difficulties - and protect whistleblowers in the NHS constitution.
"Where hospitals are doing the right thing, but struggling with debts that are no fault of their own, when they have good plans in place, where they are facing up to the tough decisions that they need to make… in those cases we will help."
Most of the hospitals expected to benefit from this 'recapitalisation' will be hospitals built under PFI contracts, a flagship policy of the Blair government.