MAVIS and David Holmes, of Bolton-le-Sands, have presented a UK petition with more than 400,000 signatures against privatisation of the NHS to Morecambe and Lunesdale MP David Morris.

Mrs Holmes, 64, a former secretary of Lancaster Royal Infirmary, said she and her husband felt strongly that Government plans threatened to turn the NHS into a private American style of healthcare.

The couple say Mr Holmes’ experience as a senior manager, organising Private Finance Initiatives in Blackburn and Hyndburn, convinced them the involvement of competing firms would ruin an establish healthcare system.

“This could be the issue of the decade,” said Mrs Holmes.

“Profit and health don’t go together and as an ordinary person I want a health professional to see me without having the worry of costs of possible referral on their mind.”