'Based on a legal advice commissioned by 38 Degrees campaigners there are major fears that Lansley's health reforms will shift accountability for the NHS from the government to unspecified number of private service providers, effectively ending all forms of control over healthcare provision.

The independent legal group that provided the advice piece said the a “hand-off” clause in the legislation removes any responsibility of the Health Secretary for NHS provision as commissioning groups take over the duty.

"The so-called 'hands off' clause … removes political accountability, which is the only real control voters have on the way the NHS is delivered. We won't be able to fire people on regulatory bodies or private healthcare companies when things go wrong,” said executive director of 38 Degrees David Babbs.'

Read more: NHS Reforms End Government Accountability