Stephen Hawking campaign group wins judicial review of NHS ‘privatisation’ plans

The Tories say we need to save money. Hmm, but they gave it to all their banker friends who stashed it in the Caiman islands. The public is duped again by a complicit press which is owned by the One percent. Chunky Mark talks about 'bankrupt Britain'. Well, over 40 years of neoliberalism, AKA Thatcherism, or Monetarism,   - this wonderful new economic system dreamt up by the Conservatives - and we are busted as usual. KV

A campaign group backed by Professor Stephen Hawking has been granted permission to challenge Jeremy Hunt in the High Court over plans to allow private companies to play a greater role in the NHS.

The physicist has warned that introducing commercial companies to run parts of the health and social services would amount to an “attack on the fundamental principles of the NHS”, while campaigners said they feared the Government was trying to sneak the changes through “during the clamour of Brexit”.

The proposals will now be subject to judicial review, which is expected to take place “as soon as possible after March 14”.

Founded by three doctors and a university professor, campaign group JR4NHS say that the introduction of accountable care organisations (ACOs) will “Americanise” the NHS.

The campaigners say the ACOs will decide the boundary of what care is free and what has to be paid for, and that they will be paid more if they save money.