Many constituents have contacted me with concerns surrounding potential private sector involvement in the NHS.

I fully believe in our NHS and its values, which is why I welcome that the Government have guaranteed that the NHS will always provide healthcare free at the point of delivery, regardless of ability to pay. While private providers do play a small role in improving the provision of health care, let me be abundantly clear: the Government will never privatise the NHS.

The use of private providers and the voluntary sector in the delivery of NHS services is not a new concept, with the previous Government introducing the independent sector and competition into the NHS between 1997 and 2010.

The NHS is something to be valued and protected which is why I support the commitment to properly funding the NHS. Since 2010 the NHS budget has increased every year, and I am happy to say that despite challenging financial circumstances, the annual budget of the NHS is being increased by £20.5 billion in real terms by 2023/24.

Competition in the NHS should act as a means to an end in improving services for patients, never as an end in itself.

Thank you to those who have contacted me on the matter and I hope I have provided some assurance.