A union has lent its support to a campaign aimed at keeping the NHS as the "preferred provider" of health services in the UK.

Unite/CPHVA is against the outsourcing of NHS services to private companies, and has backed a campaign urging MPs to write to health secretary Andy Burnham over the issue.

Karen Reay, Unite National Officer for Health, said the union was concerned over how healthcare would be affected by services being broken up and offered to competing companies.

Rachael Maskell, Unite's National Officer, said the lack of financial stability associated with the short-term contract culture could lead to people's lives being put at risk as services become increasingly vulnerable.

She added: "When the NHS was founded in 1948, it was recognised that the role of charities was best served by 'adding value' to support services – not actually delivering them, as this compromises their ability to be advocates for improvement."

Copyright © Press Association 2010

Unite

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