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A 57% rise in the proportion of NHS cash spent on private firms under the Tories is "not huge", Jeremy Hunt said tonight.

The top Tory made the claim as he defended new American-style 'Accountable Care Organisations' (ACOs), insisting they won't be a "vehicle for privatisation".

Campaigners are urging Mr Hunt to halt laws that will pave the way for ACOs in the NHS.

The bodies will integrate areas' health “commissioners" and “providers" to run packages of care in a move NHS chiefs say will help patients.

But critics brand them a "Trojan horse for privatisation" and doctors launched a legal fight for proper consultation.

Commons Health Committee chair Sarah Wollaston told Mr Hunt: "This committee is concerned that there is a great deal of anxiety out there that this is going to be a mechanism for privatising the NHS."

The Health Secretary replied: "The ACO contract arm is not a vehicle for privatisation of the NHS or any increased involvement of the private sector.

"That is not what is planned… it’s probably if anything going in the opposite direction."

He added: "If you look at the total amount of NHS funds that are spent with the independent and private sectors, it’s gone up from 4.9% to 7.7% since 2010 which is not a huge increase.

"And I think in the last year it went up by 0.1%."

If the same amount of cash was spent on the NHS each year, this would represent a 57% increase.

Despite assuring MPs a consultation is under way into ACOs, Mr Hunt did not guarantee he would delay the planned laws.

He claimed he will "look at what is possible" but their timetable through parliament is "not entirely within my hands".

Dr Wollaston, a GP and Tory MP, said she wanted to hear the "opportunities" of ACOs but told Mr Hunt: "Once the regulations are there they’re there."

She added: "I think there would be great value in us actually seriously considering the concerns raised."

Mr Hunt said he was "no fan of the American healthcare system", insisting: "It is not the intention of the regulations to make it easier or harder for private companies to be involved in the NHS."

But Dr Wollaston replied: "The concern is it would make it possible."

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