A WHOPPING £3million of taxpayer cash has been frittered on consultants asking patients their frustrations with the NHS.
The eye-watering sum was handed to a firm to deliver Wes Streeting’s “roadshows” where members of the public are paid for their views on the health service.
PA£3million of taxpayer cash has been frittered on Wes Streeting’s NHS ‘roadshows’[/caption]
It includes the cost of setting up the widely-mocked online portal that was instantly hijacked with joke suggestions – like mandatory BMI tests for nurses.
The use of public funds was last night slammed at a time when the government is already under fire after The Sun revealed the millions wasted on woke projects.
Health Secretary Mr Streeting launched the public consultation last year to inform his “10-year plan” to reform the NHS.
A series of in-person sessions are being held around the country where Brits are paid £175 for the day plus lunch and travel expenses.
The £2.96million contract to host the talking shops was awarded to Thinks Insight and Strategy, according to government documents.
It says this “includes running the regional deliberative events with members of the public and health and care staff, further online and in-person engagement activities, the Change NHS online portal, and analysis of the insight received.”
The colossal sum flies in the face of Labour’s commitment to rein in spending on private consultants.
Tory MP Joe Robertson, who sits on the Commons Health Committee, said: “This pricey PR exercise is nothing more than a slap in the face to Brits on waiting lists.
“Labour promised resources and reform for our NHS, but they’re happy lining the pockets of consultants while frontline staff and patients are left to suffer.
“The Health Secretary should get on with the job of delivering timely treatments and quality care, not squandering millions on a pointless vanity campaign.”
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