It is a matter of considerable regret that our MP, Ed Vaizey, voted to pass the Health and Social Care Bill in the House of Commons.

The Bill did not feature in either governing party’s manifestoes, nor in the Coalition Agreement.

In fact, the Prime Minister himself promised the NHS was safe in his hands before the election, saying categorically there would be “no top down reorganisation of the NHS”.

The minor amendments accepted by the Government did nothing to alter the nature of the Bill, which can only damage the quality of healthcare for ordinary people in Oxfordshire, by breaking up the NHS as we know it, reducing accountability and raising administrative costs, allowing private patients to jump the queue for care while NHS patients face growing waiting lists and intensifying postcode lotteries for treatment.

Those of us who volunteer to support the NHS in Oxfordshire will have an increasingly difficult task on our hands as we do our best to mitigate the effects of this divisive Bill.

Through your columns may I assure the people of Oxfordshire that when the time comes we will be supporting the Labour Party in their mission to repeal the Health and Social Care Act and its associated regulations and restore our beloved National Health Service to its rightful place at the heart of our nation, free to use for everyone at the point of need.

JEAN NUNN-PRICE, Denchworth Road, Wantage