EXCLUSIVE: LABOUR TO NATIONALISE GPs AND PRIVATE HEALTHCARE

HSJ - Labour is considering adopting plans to bring all GP practices and private healthcare providers into public ownership, according to an internal party discussion document seen by HSJ. The plans are the product of an attempt to ready Labour for a 2019 general election. The proposal to end the independent contractor status of most GPs is the brainchild of Labour policy director Andrew Fisher. He wrote in the discussion document that “the continued existence of general practice outside the NHS is an affront to our commitment to public healthcare. Let us finish what Bevan could not.” His comments echoed those of Labour MP and GP Paul Williams, who told HSJ last month: “I’d love to see the NHS being completed by the addition of general practice”. The idea of nationalising the UK’s private healthcare sector comes from Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell...>>>