LET no one be under any illusions. The proposal from Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust to move 374 health workers to a separate company under the name Salisbury Healthcare Solutions is the first step in the privatisation of the NHS.

For too long the term “by the back door” privatisation of the NHS has been used. We are now at the point where privatisation is up front in policy making by the government.

Post Brexit, when this country will be desperate for investment, our NHS is a prime candidate for sell off. The Americans are hovering to buy into our healthcare system and this would lead to the NHS being broken up and a poorer service.

Salisbury NHS Trust seem to be going ahead against advice from the NHS Regulator to pause the current plans and wait for new guidance. It beggars belief!

This our NHS and it is not and should never be for sale.

Roger Stephens

Salisbury