NHS AND NETCARE

That this House notes that the South African company Netcare is the preferred bidder to provide Capture, Assess, Treat and Support (CATS) clinical services to the NHS in Lancashire and Cumbria; expresses concern that the contract, which is being negotiated nationally, is to be regarded as commercially confidential; understands that assurances have been given that GPs will not be forced to refer their patients to CATS while noting that the company will get paid anyway by the NHS under the terms of the five year contract; regrets that a consultation on the implementation of the new arrangements started on 15th January when key aspects of the contract, such as the involvement of the company in the training of doctors, are still under discussion; and believes that the case for force-feeding the private sector to take on an ever increasing role in delivering NHS clinical services has not been made.