The deputy-chairman of the British Medical Association his encouraging GPs to lobby their MPs to sign a motion to parliament to extend Freedom of Information to private contractors.
Labour MP Grahame Morris proposed the motion to parliament to include NHS contractors in the FOI act, but the government has since ruled out the possibility of formally extending the act.
GP Magazine report:
BMA deputy chairman Dr Kailash Chand said GPs should put pressure on their MPs to sign an early day motion (EDM) put forward by Labour MP and health select committee member Grahame Morris.
The motion, called Private Healthcare Companies and Freedom of Information, has been signed by 94 MPs. Seven Liberal Democrats, 80 Labour MPs and representatives of several smaller parties have signed. No Conservative MPs have signed to date.
Health regulator Monitor is looking at freedom of information duties as part of its Fair Playing Field Review into whether there is an equal footing for all providers to bid for NHS services. The review is due to report back to health secretary Jeremy Hunt next month.