Private health companies worried about any changes to the NHS reform Bill from the government's 'listening exercise' needn't been unduly concerned.

According to David Worskett head of the NHS Partners Network, whose members include private health companies General Health Group, Bupa, Care UK and United Health: "I don’t think anybody need worry with Stephen in full cry".

He is referring to Sir Stephen Bubb, the health expert appointed to the NHS Future Forum which carried out the consultation to advise on competition issues. As chief executive of the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, Bubb represents the views of non-profit providers of healthcare. However, as Worskett explained to an audience last month in answer to the question 'how are private health companies' views being reflected on the Forum':

"The role of alternative providers are exactly the same for‐profit and not‐for‐profit providers and we do have a number of absolutely wonderful not‐for‐profit providers represented on the Forum and of course, Stephen Bubb, the Chief Executive of ACEVO is leading the competition work stream.

"I think I want to say publicly that I’m enormously grateful to him for the extraordinary competence and energy with which he is doing that."

Worskett lamented the fact that "the route is indirect", but that "I don’t think anybody need worry with Stephen in full cry that the angles aren’t being addressed."

Concerns over Bubb's impartiality have been aired by many, including John Pugh, Lib Dem spokesman on health. Pugh told the Observer:

"Despite a growing consensus across the NHS and political spectrum about the appropriate balance to be achieved between collaboration and competition, it could all collapse if an attempt is made to skew the feedback from the listening exercise. In particular, the role of Bubb in chairing the listening exercise on competition is seen by many as a clear conflict of interest.

"Asking Sir Stephen to sum up on competition rules is as neutral as asking Simon Cowell to tell us about the merits of TV talent shows.

"The real problem, though, is Sir Stephen's enthusiasm for better access to NHS work for the charitable sector, which will be a Trojan horse that will allow huge private companies to dismember the NHS in a chaotic fashion."