Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, on the NHS Direct announcement, said:

“The NHS has been battered by this Government. But this, by any reckoning, is one of worst acts of vandalism.

“It is a sad day when a valued and trusted NHS service, which provided reliable advice to millions, has to turn off the lights.   

“The Government’s decision to break it up and privatise the service has resulted in call handlers replacing nurses and an inferior service to the public.

“The demise of NHS Direct encapsulates what is happening to the rest of the NHS under David Cameron – a good public service undermined, broken-up and then sold off. This is further proof that you can’t trust the Tories with the NHS.”

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