GPs accused of conflict of interests

Doctors who take over two-thirds of the NHS budget from today will award contracts to companies they are also involved in, critics have warned.

NHS reforms will see Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) – bodies made up of an area's GPs and other health professionals – become responsible for spending £60bn a year on commissioning health services for the NHS. The Sunday Times reported three examples where a CCG had commissioned healthcare from a company in which a board member had an interest.

Andy Burnham, the shadow Health Secretary, said: "David Cameron has created a colossal conflict of interest at the heart of the NHS."