THE Government's Heath and Social Care Bill continues to be debated in parliament, but one little-noticed fact emerged just before Christmas: in future NHS hospitals will be able to generate up to 49% of their income from private work, compared with just a few per cent today.

This apparently innocuous change will have profound effects:

1. Cash-strapped hospitals will devote nearly half their capacity to private patients

2. Waiting times for NHS patients will sky-rocket, especially as the Government has already relaxed waiting time targets

3. Desperate NHS patients, who can afford it, will go private

4. The growing demand for private health care will encourage NHS hospitals to focus on private provision.

This vicious spiral will allow the Government to introduce a US-style healthcare system by the back-door. Most people will be forced to take out health insurance, whilst the NHS will provide second-class care for the poor and those unable to secure insurance.

On May 7 last year, we met with our MP, Geoffrey Cox, to discuss the Health and Social Care Bill. We suggested that maintaining the current cap on private treatment in the NHS of a few per cent was an amendment to the legislation which Mr Cox might propose.

Now it's decision time for Geoffrey Cox. Is he a Tory 'yes-man' who will support this damaging legislation, even though he might privately disagree with it, or will he stand up for the NHS?

David Benzie, Alison Young and Brendan Bold

Tavistock Labour Party