A senior Tory MP has suggested the Government should scrap the NHS and replace it with a French-style health insurance system.
Sir Edward Leigh, former Trade minister, told the Health Secretary the current system is not working, and "people are fed-up with paying" money all their life and still ending up last at the queue.
He made the remarks at the Commons after Therese Coffey addressed the House with a promise of “laser-like” focus on NHS problems.
In her speech to MPs, Ms Coffey also pledged her commitment to the four-hour A&E target for people to be admitted, transferred or discharged.
The target has not been met since 2015. There have been four prime ministers in that time.
Sir Edward Leigh said: “The fault is with the system. The last example of collective planning and socialist central control, and ever more targets like today.
“It simply doesn’t work. Will the Secretary of State… have an open mind to looking at the social insurance systems of France, Germany and Italy?”
He added: “The health outcomes in these countries are far superior than ours, people are fed-up with paying all their life and being at the end of the queue. It shouldn’t just be the rich who can access private healthcare.”
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the Mirror: “The strength of our NHS comes from its founding principles- publicly funded and free to all who need it.
" Labour will oppose tooth and nail any attempt to undermine those principles.
"The Conservatives have never truly believed in the NHS, that’s why they accept lower standards and longer waiting times for patients.
“Every time the mask slips, it reminds us why we can’t trust the Tories with the NHS.”
Ms Coffey replied to Sir Edward: “I understand why my right honourable friend makes the point, recognising that many other countries in Europe have that approach.
"However, that is not the approach we are going to take under this Government.”
