Private Equity Firms Take Control of NHS Dentists: Critics Urge Former Health Minister to Step Down
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Labour Grandee Urged to Step Aside from Advising Private Equity Sharks Who Swooped on NHS Dentists
A prominent Labour grandee has been called upon to reconsider his role in advising private equity firms that have taken control of National Health Service (NHS) dentists, sparking concerns about the impact on patients’ access to healthcare.
Alan Milburn, a former Secretary of State for Health under Tony Blair and current advisor to private equity giant, Bain Capital, has been urged to step aside from his role amidst growing unease over the takeover. This comes as millions of Brits struggle to secure appointments with dentists due to unprecedented delays and shortages in NHS dental services.
Critics have pointed out that Milburn’s involvement in advising Bain Capital on its healthcare acquisitions raises serious questions about conflicts of interest, given his previous government experience in the health sector. His role has sparked widespread controversy, with many arguing it undermines trust in the Labour Party’s commitment to protecting the public from private equity firms’ profiteering.
It is reported that Milburn was instrumental in advising Bain Capital on its acquisition of a significant stake in several NHS dental practices, which have subsequently seen patients’ access to healthcare severely curtailed. As one critic sharply pointed out, “Alan Milburn’s role in promoting the takeover is a slap in the face for ordinary people who are already struggling with the impact of his policies on the NHS.”
The backlash has been so intense that even some Labour Party members have joined calls for Milburn to step down from his advisory position. “It’s unacceptable that someone with Alan’s track record in health policy should be advising private equity firms that are profiteering off the backs of vulnerable patients,” stated one Labour activist.
As the controversy deepens, it remains unclear whether Milburn will take heed of the calls for him to relinquish his role or continue to promote his interests as an advisor.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
