NHS commissioners spent £5m+ on competition lawyers, says Labour

NHS commissioners have spent more than £5m on competition lawyers since key changes came into force in April 2013, Labour has claimed.

The figures were obtained following a freedom of information request.

Labour said it remained committed to restoring an NHS “based on collaboration, not competition” by repealing the Health & Social Care Act 2012.

The party also cited the results of a survey of hospital chief executives conducted by the Health Service Journal, which found that nine in ten wanted the cutting back of the new competition rules as a priority.

Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, said: “While the NHS has been throwing cash at lawyers, more and more older people have been denied essential operations and the A&E crisis has got worse. 

"It is taking millions away from patient care and holding back changes that the NHS needs to make. Since April this year, the NHS has been unable to make sensible changes to services without consulting competition lawyers - it is a ridiculous state of affairs that can’t go on.”