Health secretary Matt Hancock

• I WAS dismayed to read of the latest step in the privatisation of the NHS: the announcement of the sale of GP surgeries in Islington (and Camden and Haringey) to the American Centene Corporation, one of the largest insurance companies in the world, (GP surgeries’ patients put in the hands of US big business, February 19).

This is a continuation of the government’s policy to dismantle our health service. What bothers me is what appears to be a further display of dishonesty/corruption within the government.

That this decision was taken without any consultation or discussion by parliament is unthinkable, especially during a time when the NHS is having to deal with the Covid-19 coronavirus.

It is very much in keeping with an earlier decision, without any real competition, to hand out to known financial supporters of the Conservative Party, contracts for the purchase of protective clothing and other equipment for the NHS, which proved to be unsuitable and which resulted in a huge financial loss.

We saw the same with the early unsuccessful track-and-trace contract through another private company.

We now have health secretary Matt Hancock handing over to his former neighbour the contract for producing vaccine vials for NHS Covid-19 tests.

Despite an inquiry about to be held into the legality of this decision Mr Hancock sees no reason to resign.

A recent report states that during the period of this pandemic the poor have become much poorer and the wealthy have become much richer: a coincidence? Is this not corruption?

ANNETTE THOMAS
Bardolph Road, N7