Many constituents have contacted me with concerns surrounding potential private sector involvement in the NHS.

I fully believe in our NHS and its values, which is why I welcome that the Government have guaranteed that the NHS will always provide healthcare free at the point of delivery, regardless of ability to pay. While private providers do play a small role in improving the provision of health care, let me be abundantly clear: the Government will never privatise the NHS.

The use of private providers and the voluntary sector in the delivery of NHS services is not a new concept, with the previous Government introducing the independent sector and competition into the NHS between 1997 and 2010. This can involve the procurement and commissioning processes that are vital in providing the best possible care, therefore the adoption of innovation and efficiency can be of great benefit.

The NHS is something to be valued and protected which is why I support the commitment to properly funding the NHS. The most important way to support the delivery of care is through investment.  Since 2010 the NHS budget has increased every year, and I am happy to say that despite challenging financial circumstances, the annual budget of the NHS is being increased by £20.5 billion in real terms by 2023/24. And the Government is investing an extra £45.6 billion in funding for health and social care over the next three years, delivering better care for patients.

The Government is also making the largest health capital investment in a decade, making a real difference to the lives of NHS staff and patients, including the hospital rebuilding programme, new community diagnostic centres and mental health urgent and emergency care facilities. This includes multi-year funding for 2024/25 of £1.7 billion for over 70 hospital upgrades, including health centres. With the Government having already completed 65 upgrade schemes since 2017.

I am proud of the commitment to improving standards of patient safety, wherever NHS or independent sector care is provided. This has included establishing the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch to investigate patient safety concerns, including care at private or independent healthcare provider settings.

Competition in the NHS should act as a means to an end in improving services for patients, never as an end in itself.

Thank you to those who have contacted me on the matter, and I hope I have provided some assurance.