Thank you for contacting me regarding my vote on amendment NC17 to the Trade Bill.
Firstly, as a practicing NHS doctor, please rest assured that I would never support any measures that would negatively impact the NHS or any part of the NHS. The NHS should be protected from any disadvantage from future trade deals, so I am glad to have received personal reassurances from the Prime Minister than the NHS is not “for sale”.
Secondly, I was concerned that in a similar fashion to NC12, that NC17 could have caused the unintended consequence of preventing NHS patients from receiving medicines (which they can currently and already do receive) which are made by overseas suppliers. I am sure you would agree that it would be undesirable to create a new law that prevented patients from receiving medicines which they may need as a result of the formation of a new trade deal.
I hope this reply is helpful and gives you an understanding of my thinking on this important issue.