Mr Akbar, an ambulance worker, argues it symbolises a decline in the quality of care for NHS patients, as private providers may prioritise profits over health.
“Workers and communities should have more say in how the NHS is run, ensuring decisions focus on patient care, not financial targets,” he said.
“Health outcomes are tied to poverty, housing, and working conditions, so NHS rebuilding must also address these inequalities.
“We demand real terms restorative pay from the 14 years of brutal austerity.
“This Labour government will have a crisis of legitimacy if they choose a path of further privatisation of the NHS, which would put at risk the sense of the collectivism that is at the heart of our health service.”
He added that only 11 South West trusts responded to the FOI – meaning the true figure being paid to the private sector could be far higher than £151m.