Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on an investigation by the British Medical Journal, which questions the efficiency of NHS referral management centres, said:

“This is a worrying development highlighting how much our NHS is struggling to cope with increase in patient demand and Tory cuts to our health service.

“Patients will rightly be alarmed that millions of pounds is being siphoned off to the private sector to stop people from being referred to hospital.

“Private firms are effectively calling into question clinical decisions which have been made by qualified GPs, simply to cut costs, and patients deserve better.”