Letter sent to the BBC on NHS coverage

Dear Ms Boaden.

I am writing in relation to the BBC coverage of the NHS Health and Social Care bill, that has now become an Act.

As an organisation that has huge resources, I am curious to know whether you had thought to invest time and money into uncovering some of the vested interests of our parliamentarians in private health care?

As the Lords were sitting in the chamber debating the bill, I was unearthing and putting out the list of Lords and MPs who have these interests. The list went viral and although I accept you may personally have not seen the list, I am slightly aghast that the BBC didn't pick up on it, or think to make this connection yourselves.

The research found 142 Peers having financial connections to companies involved in private healthcare. The Conservative Lords have 1 in 4 with these conflicts of interest. Even now, despite the bill becoming an Act, this list represents a threat to our democracy and I alongside tens of thousands of others who have passed this around on twitter feel it must get some coverage. This list is not something of the past, but represents the present, and gives a glaring idea of why this bill was produced.

Furthermore, why, when Andrew Lansley has been outed as having been bankrolled by the chairman of CareUK, was this not raised with him whenever he spoke of the bill? Surely every reasoning he gave as a justification for the bill should be linked to his healthcare financial supporters. The coalition are littered with these connections, yet from the interviews and coverage the BBC has given, you would never guess this was the case. 

Is it not a dereliction of journalistic duty to allow Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary and author of the Health and Social Care bill, to repeat his various reasonings for the bill without constantly challenging him and his party's connections to the private healthcare industry?

Finally, i would be grateful if you could tell me if you think the matter of the Lords financial interests in Private Healthcare is now in your thoughts, and whether you will intend to highlight this in a future news item?

Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response.

Andrew Robertson

Social Investigations

Conservative Lord is Partner of Firm that Moved into a Position to Make Money from Reforms as he Voted on the Health and Social Care bill

As the Health and Social Care bill was being debated in the House of Lords, Beachcroft an international law firm heavily involved in healthcare positioned itself into an alliance led by Capita, which was making money from developing the new Clinical Commissioning groups (CCGs).

Beachcroft like so many companies involved in healthcare has a Lord in a senior position. Lord Hunt of Wirral was a senior partner at Beachcroft Wansboroughs now DAC Beachcroft from 1996 until 2005, whereupon he became chairman of the firm’s financial services division.

When speaking in a House of Lords debate on health in October 2010, he said: ‘Many of the Government's commitments will require primary legislation, and a Bill is due to be introduced later this year which will attract considerable attention not only from within the NHS but from firms in the private health sector and from professional advisers.’

Seven months before the Conservative Peer made that statement, and five months before the government publically released their White Paper: Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS: Beachcroft were busy strengthening their healthcare team. In an article appearing in the lawyer, it revealed how Beachcroft were raiding a ‘10-strong team of lawyers from Halliwells’ healthcare practice.’ Head of healthcare Nigel Montgomery told the lawyer: “It [healthcare] is absolutely a growth area and has grown substantially over the last three years,”

Further depth to their healthcare team was made following the appointment of partner Eve Gregory, from legal giant Eversheds, a firm that had already lost a five-strong health team in the health sector to Beachcroft in 2008.

Beachcroft’s influence cannot be overstated, with the law firm having over 300 health clients; Beachcroft is one of the largest commercial law firms in the UK and is widely regarded as the leading legal adviser to the health and social care sector. In July this year, Peter Lee, former Partner and now consultant at Beachcroft, was appointed Chairman of The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust. In the same month, the NHS Commercial Alliance, a new procurement partnership set up in 2010, selected 11 law firms in one of the largest legal services framework agreements in the country, valued at £20m for up to four years. The framework agreement, which was awarded last month, covers eight lots, and Beachcroft are represented in every one of them.

Lord Hunt is not the only parliament representative they’ve had; Charles Clarke – the former Labour MP for Norwich South was once listed as a consultant to Beachcroft LLP. The MP was roundly condemned by those on the left of the party for his statement suggesting people should be charged for 'peripheral treatments'.

Beachcroft who have just launched a new updated guide for Clinical Commissioning Groups at the beginning of April, are all set to make money from the continued CCG development process. Capita who have won multiple contracts to develop the new CCGs, are leading the way, sponsoring the Clinical Commissioning conference titled: ‘‘Defining Our Future’, taking place today (24^th April) in London.

Perhaps it goes without saying, but say it I will, Lord Hunt of Wirral was able to vote on the Health and Social care bill, and vote he did; loyally with the government in all key divisions. His connection to a company involved in private healthcare makes him one of the 27% of Conservative Lords with such interests.

Did Lord Hunt give inside knowledge of the upcoming changes to Beachcroft? The answer is we don’t know, and Beachcroft can surely stand on their own two feet. What is certain however, is Lord Hunt of Wirral should not be allowed to vote on a bill with this conflict of interest. Our democracy is broken and the corporations are running the show.

Please sign the petition below to stop the Lords from being allowed to vote with conflicts of interest  http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31991

If the story sounds familiar, it’s because another Tory Peer Baroness Cumberlege who runs a training and consultancy company called Cumberlege Connections, had also moved her company into an alliance led by PricewaterhouseCoopers, which is winning contracts to develop the new CCGs; the story is told here. 

National Clinical Commissioning Conference Links Multiple Private Health Companies to Lords and MPs

A national conference for CCG leaders to air their ‘concerns’ over the implementation of clinical commissioning, is littered with companies who have financial links to Lords and MPs. The event, which is titled ‘Defining Our Future’, is sponsored by Capita, a private company winning contracts for developing the CCGs.  

The Capita partnership includes amongst it clients: Beachcroft, PHAST, NHS Alliance (Who are hosting the event), Foresight partnership, Ville & Company, and Penna.

Capita partner Beachcroft, is one of the largest commercial law firms in the UK and is widely regarded as the leading legal adviser to the health and social care sector. To their advantage, they have Lord Hunt of Wirral as a partner. In October 2008 when speaking in a healthcare debate in the Lords, the Peer stated: “A Bill is due to be introduced later this year which will attract considerable attention not only from within the NHS but from firms in the private health sector and from professional advisers.”

Lord Hunt is not alone in being involved in a company that has moved into a position where it can make money from the reforms; in which he voted; which he did in all the key areas of the debate as it passed through the House. Baroness Cumberlege positioned her company Cumberlege Connections, into an alliance led by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as she debated the merits of the bill in the House. The story of her involvement is well covered here.

Included in Beachcroft’s connections to power, is former Labour MP for Norwich South Charles Clarke, who was listed in the 2008 register of interests as a consultant to commercial firm Beachcroft LLP. When Mr Clarke was a sitting MP, he promoted the idea that the NHS should charge for 'peripheral treatments'. In 2008, he was also registered as a consultant to KPMG LLP, on the 'future of public service reform.' KPMG are heavily involved in implementing changes in the NHS and its commissioning groups.

Companies in the KPMG partnership with links to parliamentarians are UK law firm Morgan Cole, who have Conservative MEP Ashley Fox as their connection, who was an Associate to the company until 2009 when he was elected to the European Parliament. In addition, I.T. company McKesson Information Solutions Ltd, have Lord Carter as their chairman. The Labour Peer is also the chairman of the NHS Co-operation and Competition Panel (CCP), a conflict of interest, which in a statement made by McKesson to the Guardian is avoided because he: "steps down from any investigation where there is potential conflict of interest.” 


So that’s alright then.

The list of companies in partnerships winning contracts to develop CCGs and having connections to Lords and MPs doesn’t end there. In 2008, Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle Gregory Baker, had shares in Penna plc, who deliver HR services to the NHS and are in the Capita partnership. PricewaterhouseCoopers (Pwc) donated more than £100,000 worth of professional advice to some of the Conservative Party's most senior politicians in the first quarter of the year. A total of £102,950 was donated  in non-cash gifts, however it isn’t just the Conservatives. PwC have also donated in the form of research assistants to Ed Balls, John Denham, Caroline Flint, Chuka Umanna as part of their continual involvement in influencing government policy no matter who gets into power. 

Lord Darzi, a former surgeon drafted into government as a health minister by Gordon Brown when he was PM, is now an adviser to medical technology firm GE Healthcare, another ‘Approved Provider.' When speaking at a stage of the Health and Social Care bill when a proposal was put forward to prevent the reading of the bill going any further, he said: ‘he would find it 'difficult at this stage' to vote for blocking the Bill...'I am speaking as a surgeon, not a politician.'

McKinsey also involved in the CCG creations , and who have been accused of being a shadow government  in an article written by George Monbiot, gave £10,000 to David Milliband for a speech made at a Global Business Leaders Summit in February last year. The former foreign secretary also received a sum of £10,044 from the same company for travel expenses and accommodation for a meeting in Singapore in March 2011. In addition to this, Conservative Peer Lord Blackwell, was a partner with McKinsey and Company between 1978 and 1994.

The links to Lords and MPs in this conference, highlights once more the driving force of private companies in the changing state of the NHS.

CARE Bus Ad Outrage: List of MPs with links to CARE interns

MPs have distanced themselves from the Christian charity CARE following a homophobic poster that suggested people who are gay, can be changed. Boris Johnson pulled the adverts, which read ‘Not gay! Ex-gay, Post-Gay And Proud. Get Over It!’ Now, following a campaign, MPs are distancing themselves from the views of the charity, with two MPs promising not to take any interns from the charity again. Catherine McKinnell, and Sharon Hodgson both confirmed they would not take interns from CARE in the future.

Some of the MPs listed below voted against for sexual equality in the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007, including Tim Farron of the Liberal Democrats and Andrew Sealous of the Conservatives.

Perhaps people’s religious beliefs need to be declared on certain subjects that are potentially affected by a person’s religious belief such as sexual orientation or abortion. Well, that’s one for debate?

The list below is of the MPs who have taken on an intern provided by CARE since 2008 up until the latest register of Interests.

David Burrowes: Conservative: Intern provided by Christian charity, CARE. (2008 register of interests)

Alistair Burt: Conservative: Provision of an intern by CARE (Christian Action, Research and Education). (Registered 6 February 2008)

Stephen Crabb: Conservative: Provided with an intern by CARE (Christian Action, Research and Education). (2008 register of interests)

John Glen: Conservative: Four days a week voluntary service from October 2011 to July 2012 provided by a volunteer intern who is self-funding except for the receipt of a bursary of£5,500 as a member of the educational leadership programme at the Christian Charity CARE.

Andrew Sealous: Conservative: Provision of an intern by CARE (Christian Action Research and Education). (Registered 7 October 2008)

Caroline Spelman: Conservative: The bursary of my Research Assistant is met by Christian Action, Research and Education (CARE).

Gary Streeter: Conservative: Intern provided by CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) from October 2008- July 2009. (Registered 13 October 2008)

Steve Webb: Conservative: Intern provided by Christian charity, CARE.

Paul Burstow: Lib Dem: Since September 2004 I have been provided with an intern sponsored by CARE (Christian Action, Research and Education). (2008 register of interests)

Tim Farron: Lib Dem: Four days a week voluntary service from October 2011 to July 2012 from a volunteer intern who is self funding except for the receipt of a bursary as a member of the educational leadership programme at the Christian charity CARE. voted against Equality Act Sexual Orientation Reg. 2007.

David Drew: Labour: Provided with an intern sponsored by CARE (Christian Action, Research and Education). (2008 register of interests)

Sharon Hodgson: Labour: Four days a week voluntary service from October 2011 to July 2012 provided by a Volunteer Intern who is self-funding except for the receipt of a bursary of £5,500 as a member of the educational Leadership Programme at the Christian Charity CARE.

Elizabeth Kendall: Labor: Four days a week voluntary service from 6 December 2011 to 23 February 2012 provided by a volunteer intern who is self funding except for the receipt of a bursary of £5,500 as a member of the educational leadership programme at the charity CARE.

Catherine McKinnell: Labour: Four days a week voluntary service from 10 October 2011 to 19 July 2012 provided by a volunteer intern who is self- funding except for the receipt of a bursary of £5,500 as a member of the educational leadership programme at the charity CARE.

Andrew Reed: Labour: Had the services for four days a week of an intern sponsored by CARE (Christian Action, Research and Education). (2008 register of interests)

For full list of MPs who have declared support for CARE since 2007 see here.