A BURY MP has accused a councillor of trying to use the NHS as a "political football" after refusing to back a bid to curb the role of the private sector.

Bury North MP David Nuttall was one of 18 MPs to vote against a bill proposed by Labour in the House of Commons aimed at removing compulsory tendering to the private sector for NHS contacts, and restricting the amount of income NHS hospitals can generate from private patients.

Elton Cllr James Frith, who is Labour's candidate for the Bury North seat at next year's General Election, claimed that the Mr Nuttall was therefore voting in favour of "privatisation" of the NHS.

However Mr Nuttall said that the bill would lead to power being taken from the hands of doctors and nurses and instead given to politicians.

The private members bill cleared its first parliamentary hurdle after being passed, but there is little chance of it ever becoming law.

Mr Nuttall said: "The effect of the bill introduced by Labour would be to stifle innovation and stop the health service from harnessing the potential benefits of the independent sector. Charities, social enterprises and private companies all have a role to play in improving patient care.

"The present guidelines already make it clear that no one is forced to put services out to competitive tender.

"For example, a clinical commissioning group may decide that the benefits of running a competitive tender process are not worth the costs of running it.

"By preventing hospitals from bringing in resources from the private sector it would actually mean less cash for our NHS as current legislation specifically requires NHS Foundation Trusts to use non-NHS income to benefit NHS patients."

Cllr Frith said: "Bury is already suffering from £60 million in withheld funding by this Tory-led government with services including our beloved hospice under threat whilst our Tory MP votes for more privatisation in our NHS.

"I’ve received hundreds of letters on this issue, the will of the people of Bury is clear - the privatisation of the NHS under this Tory coalition is wrong and has to be stopped.

"Labour will repeal the Health and Social Care Act if we return to government, and once again put patients before profit."