Thank you all for your support. I have provided a little bit of background as to why I raised this petition below.

It started with me investigating, for 6 months, the private hospitals that the NHS pays for use of their services. I did this because my wife, a retired NHS nurse, had been referred to a particular private hospital group for treatment for her acute arthritis (virtually every joint in her body). I had become sick of having to raise complaints against this group for the low standard of care she received due to incompetence on their part. Over a 7 year period I have had cause to write more than 30 complaints to The NHS in this regard. (You have to complain to the NHS about private treatment they have sanctioned and the process is even more tortuous and drawn out). My wife is currently awaiting another total knee replacement, both hips to be replaced, spinal surgery and is also waiting to discover what a strange white mass that appeared in her wrist is following surgery. She has been waiting over a year for any of these surgeries to happen, despite my complaints.  The private group is less than helpful when you complain and are clearly just interested in profit not patients.

My research has thrown up alarming results indicating that our overall care and health services are at least 30% owned or run by private companies, many from the USA. These companies are run purely for profit and heavily owned by private equity companies.

The NHS was again radically ‘transformed’ in 2022 by the Health and Care Act, ostensibly, to ensure collaboration between providers. Notably the Act created new opportunities for private companies to profit from the NHS. Over 200 members of the houses of parliament, who voted this act into law, have connections to private healthcare companies!

Having looked at the American Health system and with particular reference to structure and operations of our new Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) I am convinced that these ICBs are based on the American model and that the next step will be the replacement of the current “ NHS free at the point of need” with the introduction of a medical insurance scheme  for all British Citizens and that will mean that, as in the USA, your level of medical insurance will determine the level of healthcare you receive. For most citizens this will mean basic insurance cover and exorbitant medical bills if you have any thing seriously wrong with you, as in the USA.

I strongly believe this is why American companies are buying up more and more of Healthcare companies in the UK. I am also convinced that this is also the reason that the government refuses to sit down with NHS staff to discuss wages. It suits the government to have the services disrupted so as to support their plans for a smooth transition to the “medical insurance “model. 

This is why this petition must grow and open the door to a reversal of this outrageous trend. If you haven’t already done so please circulate it to your friends and family. It’s our NHS and that’s the way we want it to stay and grow.

Thank you all.

Ron