Charity managers in Bradford have come forward to voice their concerns about proposed changes to the health service as set out in the Health and Social Care bill.

Prime Minister David Cameron this week called on charities to speak up about the Bill and in Bradford, several managers have come forward to express their scepticism about the Government’s proposals.

Paul Barrett, who manages the Kirkgate Centre, a community centre in Shipley, said: “We work with the Health Action Local Engagement (HALE) and other charities along with the public sector to improve local health.

“As charities, we tend to avoid direct intervention in political debates. However, the Prime Minister has requested that we speak up, so we will.

“As charities, we are not prepared to be used as the ‘acceptable face of privatisation’.”

Mr Barrett said he was speaking as one of a number of charity managers who have decided to voice concerns.

They include Keith Nathan, of Age Concern Bradford and District, Natasha Thomas, of the HALE project in Shipley and Neal Heard, of Bradford Alliance on Community Care, based in Carlisle Road, Bradford.

Their concerns include a lack of support for the proposed reforms from GPs and health service staff, a potentially fragmented health service and the return of a postcode lottery.

They also fear a two-tier health service, with privately-funded patients becoming the priority, while GPs may be diverted from caring for patients to become fund managers.

They are also concerned at the prospect of large amounts of public health funding being syphoned off as profits and dividends by private companies and a lack of public accountability.

“NHS managers are currently being demonised,” added Mr Barrett. “The truth is such a huge and important budget needs very careful management and, as charities, our experience of the PCT in Bradford has been very positive. We see the effects of poor health on families first hand.”

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