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The few salient points that are made here are made redundant by some the sweeping generalisations it makes. Healthcare is vastly different to the other consumer markets that are referred to. All the evidence suggests that elements of regulated competition have improved non-complex services – no evidence exists to extend that to all provision. To take such drastic steps seems unjustified, if not irresponsible. A balance between competition and integration is possible, and something that consideration should be given to.

Interestingly a piece in the Lancet this morning disputes the efficiency premise that these reforms are built on. The government’s use of cancer statistics has largely been discredited. Some evidence can be found to support this reform program, but nowhere near enough.