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A bill proposed by a Tory MP which would see increased NHS charging is listed to be debated in Parliament.

MP Christopher Chope wants to increase charges throughout the NHS and will use the debate in the House of Commons to persuade his fellow Conservatives to include it in their next manifesto.

Currently NHS charges are restricted to only a few areas such as dentistry, eye tests, and prescribed medicines.

Right winger Mr Chope’s bill would open the floodgates to charging for a host of other services which could include GP appointments and some hospital procedures.

It has no chance of being passed without Government support but could be debated third in the main chamber if there is time in an attempt to spark a national debate on the issue.

(Image: Mirror Screen Grab)

The National Health Service (Co-Funding and CoPayment) Bill would “make provision for co-funding and for the extension of co-payment for NHS services in England”.

Justin Madders MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, said: “Once again we see the Tories’ true colours.

“At a time when the NHS is going through the biggest funding squeeze in its history and more than four million people are waiting for treatment, Tory MPs are proposing a two tier system where those who can afford it get treated first.

“Labour’s first priority will be to give the NHS the funding it needs to protect an NHS free at the point of use for everyone who needs it.”

Mr Chope has been accused of “abusing the system” by putting down 47 parliamentary bills in a move which critics say will stop other backbenchers’ proposals being debated.

The MP for Christchurch, Dorset, slept in the Houses of Parliament for three nights to ensure he was at the head of the queue to introduce a host of controversial bills.

His other bills include one to privatise the BBC and Channel Four.Mr Chope has said: “A lot of them are radical ideas which we think could be usefully debated and some of them I’d hope would be included in the next Conservative Party general election manifesto, for example.”