MUCH-TRUMPETED government reforms to health and social care are actually just a top-down reorganisation that could speed up privatisation, unions and NHS campaigners warned today.

Tory ministers spent much of this week spinning their white paper as an attack on bureaucracy, a helping hand towards long-awaited integration of health and social care services — and even as an end to privatisation.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the proposals would help integrate the NHS, social care and local government while getting support “closer to the front line.”